News

The St. Joseph County Career & Technical Education (CTE) Consortium recognizes several students who were recently nominated by their instructors for their outstanding performance during the first semester. These students have distinguished themselves among their peers by demonstrating dedication, perseverance and commitment in their CTE programs.  Instructors commonly describe these students as having a strong work ethic, within and outside …

Three Rivers Fire Department personnel rescued a dog that had fallen through ice and into the St. Joseph River over the weekend in Lockport Township. Firefighters were dispatched around 9:30 a.m. Sunday to the area of South River Road and Noah Lake Drive for a report of a dog in distress and struggling to stay afloat. Authorities responded and managed …

Marshall Community Credit Union is making an offer to help local educators. Now through March 15, MCCU is accepting applications for its mini-grant program. Company officials said mini-grants help fill gaps in the classroom that aren’t otherwise funded through the school system. MCCU Financial Education Specialist Laura Van Dyke said there is a preference for financial education-based requests, but there …

Sturgis firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire over the weekend on the east side of town. Agency officials said the call came around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and they responded to the 1200 block of East Chicago Road, near Arthur Street. Personnel first on the scene noted the attic of a closed business was on fire. The blaze …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a report of shots fired in Calhoun County’s Burlington Township. Authorities said the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the 5500 block of 11 1/2 Mile Road. Investigators determined multiple shots had been fired and struck a pickup in the driveway of a residence. No additional information was available in a department media …

An 11-year-old girl who was hospitalized for burns following a northern Indiana house fire has died, bringing the fire’s death toll to six children, all of them siblings, authorities said Monday. Angel Smith died Friday at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the Marion County Coroner’s Office said in a Monday update. Her death was confirmed one day after a vigil was …

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County and its neighbors increased mildly from November. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 3.5 percent in November to 3.8 percent in December. The county’s December rate from a year earlier was 4.1 percent. Cass County also …

Three people were found to be in violation of terms of their probation following a compliance check last week in Three Rivers. Conducted Thursday, the compliance check involved Three Rivers Police Department, Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team and Michigan State Police Computer Crimes. The check centered on parole and probation compliance. In all, nine checks …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of lawn equipment from a location in Fabius Township. Authorities said the incident occurred between Dec. 13 and 14 in the 61000 block of Youngs Prairie Road. Items taken include a Lincoln brand stick welder, a Stihl trimmer and attachment, a brush trimmer attachment and a Hot Shot prod handle.

St. Joseph County Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster has been chosen to serve as chairman of the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Board. Hoffmaster, a Fabius Township resident and former Three Rivers City Commission member, was named chairman during last week’s organizational meeting. He had previously served as the board’s vice-chair. Hoffmaster took over the gavel from Brent Leininger of Hillsdale County. …