Recent Posts

Out and About – Week of April 15th

A little over two weeks ago, we celebrated Easter. We thought we’d try something a little different and have Easter dinner with relatives at Gun Lake Casino, south of Grand Rapids. I was surprised to find out that the casino was open on such a holy day, but it was, and from what I gathered, a bunch of people had …

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Commission meeting tonight

A slate of annual reports tops the agenda for today’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Reports on tap today will center on the Friend of Court, Circuit Court, County Clerk, Juvenile Court and District Court. In addition, commissioners will review and consider renewing law-enforcement agreements between the sheriff’s department and separate contracts for exclusive patrol arrangements with Fabius …

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Three-vehicle crash

A Minnesota man was cited for failure to yield as the result of a three-vehicle accident Saturday night in Three Rivers. State Police investigators said the 54-year-old driver of a mini van attempted to turn left from southbound U.S. 131 into the Super 8 hotel parking lot. He turned in front of a northbound car driven by a 38-year-old Three …

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Man arrested in Sturgis

Sturgis Police arrested a man around 1 p.m. Sunday following an incident in the 1300 block of Cato Lane. A man, whose age and community of residence were not listed in a department media release, was charged with aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation after he confronted the man and used racial slurs. The suspect was released to police custody following …

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Menards opens

After more than a year of construction, the Three Rivers Menards home-improvement store opens this week. Jeff Abbott, spokesman for the Wisconsin-based company, said the store will open at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Located off Broadway Road, just west of U.S. 131, the new Menards is in excess of 200,000 square feet. Abbott said per company policy, however, the exact size …

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Agency on Aging unveiling survey

The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging is unveiling its once-every-three-years survey seeking input from residents in Branch and St. Joseph counties, and local service providers and key leaders. Laura Sutter, agency coordinator, said the agency prepares a multi-year area plan, and input received from the survey helps spell out the needs and priorities of older adults, and targets funding …

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Open house event went well

More than a dozen people showed up Saturday at the inaugural foster care and adoption open house in Three Rivers. Spearheaded by the St. Joseph County Department of Human Services, the three-hour, drop-in event provided information about licensing requirements to become involved in foster care. Karie Saylor, representing the Centreville-based DHS of St. Joseph County, said she was pleased to …

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Contract terminated

Sturgis-based Michigan Agency with Choice has terminated its contract with Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The decision was made based primarily on the agency’s refusal to reinstate services for people with disabilities, according to John Carmichael, director of business development of GT Independence, the parent company of MAWC. Liz O’Dell, Community Mental Health executive …

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Scam from fake food inspectors

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is warning local food establishments about a scam involving fake food inspectors making the rounds in the area. The tri-county health department has received reports from local restaurant owners that individuals claiming to be from a health department have contacted them and requested to schedule an inspection at the establishment. State and local food …

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Arrest for meth

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit on Tuesday executed a search warrant on a suspected methamphetamine production lab in the 100 block of East Chicago Road in White Pigeon. The warrant was the culmination of an ongoing investigation that began with an arrest for methamphetamine precursors earlier in the week, according to the sheriff’s department. On scene, …

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