St Joseph County

State Rep. Matt Lori has issued a statement on Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget message. The Constantine-area legislator said he is encouraged that Michigan is headed in the right direction, thanks in part to a series of difficult choices elected officials have made in the past year. Lori said legislators were fiscally responsible when finances were down, and they will continue …

Immunizations are expected to be administered today to as many as 90 students at Eastwood Elementary School following a confirmed case of whopping cough at the Sturgis Public Schools building. The fifth-grade student was diagnosed with whooping cough last week, prompting county health officials to review health records of students at the school. About 90 were found to be in …

A 61-year-old being sought by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department since Monday morning has turned himself in to authorities. Daniel Weinberg, whose last known address was in the 300 block of Second Street in Nottawa, was in police custody around 9 p.m. Monday, according to the sheriff’s department. Weinberg was wanted on five counts of criminal sexual conduct, police …

The names of four Sturgis residents arrested on drug-related charges have been released, as the suspects were arraigned in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Sturgis Police said they executed a search warrant around 4 p.m. Feb. 1 at a residence in the 400 block of Walker Street. Arrested were Douglas Keefer, 58, charged with maintaining a drug house; Jared Payton, …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week decided to look at combining the offices of community health services and mental health/substance abuse. Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to ask members of the Community Mental Health board and representatives from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency to review the proposal. Commissioner Rick Shaffer said the proposal was initially discussed …

Officials from the Mendon School Foundation announced this week that a retired Mendon Middle School teacher who passed away last summer left the foundation $1.7 million. Math teacher Jan Hollenbeck, who spent 27 years with the district, left the money with the stipulation that it be used for scholarship funds to support Mendon High School graduates who go on to …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded Monday morning to a methamphetamine dump site by Big Swan Creek in the 62500 block of Needham Road, in Burr Oak Township. A backpack containing meth waste and a burn site that resembled remains of a campfire were discovered at the site. Officials concluded three one-pot meth labs was produced at the location. …

Steve Todd, health officer for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency, said Tuesday that a supply of free flu shots remains available at St. Joseph County’s Three Rivers-based site. Todd told members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners that the three-county agency received about 400 doses of flu vaccine. The supply it has on hand in Three Rivers remains …

A pair of employees from the Three Rivers Clean Water Plant were recently recognized for their dedication and longevity for reporting weather observations. Twenty-year veteran James Shears and Joseph Madaras, a 15-year employee, were acknowledged with plaques issued by Brentley Lothamer, representing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition, plant director James Baker accepted recognition from Lothamer for Three …

The position of St. Joseph County treasurer was made official Friday during a brief ceremony, when County Clerk Pattie Bender officiated a swearing-in ceremony for Judie Ratering. A 52-year-old Park Township resident, Ratering succeeds Phyllis Bainbridge, who retired last week due to health reasons. Her remaining term, which runs through the end of the year, will be filled by Ratering. …