County Information

The Burr Oak Village Council this week hired a part-time police officer. The employment of Sturgis resident Steve Johnson, 44, became effective Wednesday. Pay for his anticipated 20 to 25 hours of work per week is still being negotiated by the village council. Johnson also works as a public safety officer in Benton Harbor and as a member of Tri-Township …

A press conference has been scheduled for 10 o’clock Monday morning by St. Joseph County Probate Court Judge Tom Shumaker regarding a new, proactive drug prevention and educational program centering on St. Joseph County’s teen population. The program is a collaboration between St. Joseph County police agencies, in partnership with the Prosecutor’s Office, Juvenile Court, Community Mental Health Substance Abuse …

The date for the third annual Constantine Chili Throw-Down was announced Thursday by organizers of the cook-off. A roster of four Constantine-based eateries will compete for a traveling trophy, which will be presented following the Feb. 18 event concludes. As it has in the past, the public will decide this year’s winner. A $5 entry fee entitles the public to …

Work on a 23-mile transmission line between Branch County and a substation in Mendon Township has hit a snag with the theft of copper wires used in the project. The incident took place at a work site off North Snow Prairie Road in northwestern Branch County either Jan. 21 or 22. Sheriff’s Department officials in Branch County said copper wires …

Officials from Three Rivers Health reported last week that the hospital realized more than $500,000 in net income in 2011. The matter was brought up during the Three Rivers Health Board of Directors meeting last Thursday. Three Rivers Health CEO Bill Russell said the figure represents an increase from $172,000 a year ago. Hospital officials said a key factor in …

Credits from a four-year university may soon be secured from a location in Sturgis, as Trine University is expected to start offering classes in the Commons Building of Sturgis Public Schools. The Angola, Ind.-based college is set to offer classes toward a bachelor’s degree in a number of fields, including business administration, emergency management, applied management, computer science and psychology, …

On January 31st at approximately 6:00 pm, Keshierra “Kiki” Buckley was reported missing. She had been missing from her home since Monday morning, January 30th. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department reports that she was found on Wednesday in the Three Rivers area in good health.

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is starting a new, weekly route with service to and from the Battle Creek VA Medical Center at Fort Custer. CTA executive director Steve Yorks said the inaugural trip takes place today and will continue every Wednesday. The round-trip cost is $20 and the Three Rivers-based agency needs 48 hours advance notice to coordinate …

The city of Sturgis has announced that railroad work beginning next week on West Chicago Road will close a section of the city’s most heavily traveled east-west roadway. The Michigan Department of Transportation will be conducting repairs on the railroad crossing starting Monday. The work will close U.S. 12 to thru traffic east of Jacob Street and west of Jefferson …

The wife of as Three Rivers minister was sentenced to one year of probation stemming from a Dec. 26 at their Flowerfield Township residence. Connie Tolbert, 55, pled guilty last week to one count of discharge of a firearm without malice. She was sentenced by District Court Judge William Welty. Tolbert was arrested after she shot her husband, Darryl Tolbert, …