St Joseph County

Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County executive director Liz O’Dell said the agency last week received a check for more than $200,000 from her counterpart in Oakland County. O’Dell told board members during their monthly meeting Tuesday that the $211,000 will help cover spin-down costs, which are incurred when the agency fronts deductible or co-pay …

Thirty-two food-service establishments in St. Joseph County were recognized for earning exemplary inspection scores by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Certificates of excellence were awarded to the eateries for meeting criteria set by the state and earning top scores after being inspected at least once annually by the Coldwater-based department. Among the fast-food and sit-down establishments in Sturgis, Mancino’s …

Tickets are now available for the banquet and program to honor Carol Boulette as this year’s Three Rivers Lions Club “Citizen of the Year.” The gathering takes place May 14 at Belle Epoque in downtown Three Rivers. A reception is at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30. Tickets are $20 per person and available at the Southern Michigan Bank …

The St Joseph County Sheriff Department investigated a breaking-and-entering incident last week in Lockport Township. Deputies responded to a residence in the 17000 block of Scott Lane, where prescription medicine was reported stolen. The incident occurred between 4:30 and 10 p.m. Friday.

Child welfare workers can’t be sued in the death of a Centreville teen who perished in a fire, even if they knew she was routinely tied to her bed by her parents. According to the Associated Press, Michigan’s federal appeals court has affirmed a decision by a judge in Grand Rapids. The court says the 2008 death of Calista Springer …

A 14-foot fishing boat was knocked off its trailer after it was rear-ended by a vehicle over the weekend on U.S. 12 in White Pigeon. State police said an eastbound car driven by a 59-year-old North Carolina woman failed to use caution after the vehicle in front of her slowed to turn right into a bait shop at 7:30 Sunday …

Two semi-trailers were filled with electronics during Saturday’s twice-a-year recycling collection at the St. Joseph County fairgrounds. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the collection drew a steady stream of traffic during its four-hour window, according to committee member Pat Kulikowski. The event also netted 13,800 pounds of household hazardous waste, 193 tires and 1,500 pounds of …

Sturgis High School went into lockdown Thursday as a precautionary measure after a student reported overhearing a possible act of violence. Superintendent Tom Langdon said the action was employed based on what the student reported to school officials. It prompted what Langdon called a Phase One security measure, considered a low-level threat. Based on a student’s report to the principal …

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a request for a new supervisor position at Central Dispatch, as sought by its director, Jon Uribe. Uribe on Tuesday explained the new position is for the day shift, which has been operating without a supervisor. He said the measure would create an additional position, but a current telecommunicator …

A 54-year-old Edwardsburg man was found guilty last week of 14 criminal counts. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the case against Scott Blaisedell stems from a February 2012 incident, when detectives from the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at Blaisedell’s residence. In the course of the search, detectives found throughout the home and the garage …