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St. Joseph County E-911 Central Dispatch has announced “Text-to-9-1-1” service is now functioning in the county as of this week. Dennis Brandenburg, central dispatch director, said the agency is still stressing the concept: “9-1-1, call if you can, text if you can’t.” He said the “Text-to-9-1-1” concept was introduced to better assist people who have a speech or hearing impairment. …

Four days of activities begin today in Centreville, as the annual Covered Bridge Days community festival begins this evening. Organizers said the event for the first time will feature a kick-off parade, which takes place at 7 o’clock tonight on Main Street. The procession, which previously was a festival-ending event, will feature the village’s citizens of the year: John and …

Preparations are underway in many homes, organizations and businesses across U.S. 12 for Michigan’s Longest Garage Sale, an annual event taking place August 12, 13 and 14. Kristopher Martin, project coordinator for the event, said prospective participants interested in hosting a garage sale are encouraged to register their sale for free on the new U.S. 12 Heritage Trail website: us12heritagetrail.org. …

Discussion regarding the concept of a dog park in the city of Sturgis continued this week, as the city’s parks and cemetery board reviewed pros and cons of a committee’s findings. After municipal leaders agreed to the idea, the conclusions of the committee charged with establishing the location highlighted Tuesday’s agenda. The committee has already suggested Old Depot Park as …

The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising motorists to use extra caution beginning this weekend, as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will head back to state roadways to pick up litter. Participants in the MDOT program will clean highway roadsides at various times between Saturday and July 24 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year. MDOT officials said Adopt-A-Highway …

The recent drawdown of the St. Joseph River to allow for maintenance work at the Sturgis Dam near Centreville forced the St. Joseph County Conservation District to cancel its scheduled river cleanup event last weekend. With water levels more than three feet lower than usual, the St. Joseph River cleanup between River Run and Angevine roads will not take place. …

Three Rivers Health is sponsoring its fifth annual Health Fair this weekend inside its Health TRAC facility. Organizers said the event, a benefit for the St. Joseph County United Way, runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and will include food and giveaways. Health screenings will be offered for $15, with one-third of the cost benefitting the United Way. Screenings …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the latest round of office-hour sessions in the 59th House District. Miller said he will host the informal gatherings July 25 at three area locations: Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee in Sturgis, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.; Rachael’s on East Chicago Road in White Pigeon from 9:30 to 11 a.m.; and The Town Fryer …

A Michigan sheriff pledged Tuesday to review his department’s guidelines for transporting suspects charged with violent crimes after an detainee who was cuffed in front rather than behind his back wrested a gun from a deputy and killed two court bailiffs. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey initially told reporters that Larry Darnell Gordon wasn’t handcuffed at all Monday during the …

APPOINTMENT PROCESS EXPLAINED There seem to be some misconceptions regarding the appointment of the St. Joseph County Clerk and Register of Deeds. Here is an explanation of the process that took place prior to my retirement on June 30, 2015 regarding the appointment of Lindsay Oswald. It is the duty of the Circuit Judge to make the appointment of the …