Recent Posts

Sherman Township official pleads not guilty to embezzlement charge

A Sherman Township official has pleaded not guilty to a charge of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a charitable organization. Bruce Bart, 49, appeared Tuesday before St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton for arraignment after a notice to appear was issued by prosecutor John McDonough. According to court officials, Bart is accused of …

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Three Rivers to begin hydrant flushing

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services has announced the start date of its twice-a-year hydrant flushing. The flushing will begin at 11 p.m. Monday next week. DPS officials said they expect flushing to continue through May 6, with the work taking place Sundays thru Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Due to many variables, the department is not …

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Community Health Agency reminds parents of safe sleeping techniques

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wishes to remind parents and caregivers of techniques that can help to substantially reduce the infant death rate in the three-county region and across the state. After years of significant decline, Michigan’s infant-death rate has held relatively steady since 2004, indicating that not all parents and caregivers are getting the message about safe sleep …

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Out and About – Week of March 28th

We set our clocks ahead one hour over two weeks ago, we celebrated Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter, so this has to be spring. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, because I can usually leave the house without a jacket and not have to worry about scraping the ice off my car windows. On the subject …

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Frantic calls made to 911 during Kalamazoo shooting rampage

Callers can be heard pleading to 911 dispatchers for help after a woman was shot outside an apartment complex during one of three shootings that left six people dead and two wounded in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area in February. The 911 calls were released Tuesday. In one, a woman can be heard telling a shooting victim, “Please don’t move. They’re …

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Grant awarded to local groups

St. Joseph County was chosen for a pilot program through the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards. The group was recently awarded a $4.2 million grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support 12 initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health for seniors. According to officials from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. …

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Update – River Country Has Talent

The St. Joseph County Grange Fair Board met Tuesday with representatives from the county’s summer festivals to discuss details of River Country Has Talent. Fair manager Bill Johnson last month said the 2016 fair plans to showcase local talent instead of a big-name act as part of its entertainment lineup. The new approach involves a partnership with the county’s eight …

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Run and walk events on April calendar

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Service of St. Joseph County will host a Survivor Stomp 5k run and 1.4-mile walk events April 30. According to event organizers, the run and walk are in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Participants will run and walk in support of survivors and in memory of those who have lost their lives to domestic and …

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Cass County man found guilty

A Cass County jury on Tuesday returned an “as-charged” guilty verdict against Leon Watson for his ongoing molestation of his great-niece over a seven-year period at a rural Cass County farm. The victim was 7 years old when the sex crimes began and approximately 14 when they ended last year. Watson, a 67-year-old Vandalia resident, is expected to receive a …

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Study shines light on big performance gap for car headlights

There may be a reason why people have trouble seeing while driving at night, and it’s not their eyesight. A new rating of the headlights of more than 30 midsized car models gave only one model a grade of “good.” Of the rest, about a third were rated “acceptable,” a third “marginal” and a third “poor.” The difference between the …

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