The case of an Indiana man involved in a June crash that killed two LaGrange County women in White Pigeon Township is moving on to St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Harley Jay Bontrager, 19, appeared Tuesday with his attorney, Jessica LaFond, before District Court Judge Jeff Middleton. As a result of Bontrager waiving the preliminary examination, the matter will now …

A pit bull owned by a Constantine resident will be euthanized after it bit a woman in the face earlier this year. The matter was handled Wednesday by St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton. The defendant, Cassandra McWaters, sobbed as Middleton read the order that the unlicensed dog involved in the April attack be euthanized within a week. …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a motor vehicle from a location in Branch County’s Algansee Township. Troopers said the incident occurred between July 30 and Aug. 4 from a residence on Lester Road. Authorities said suspects loaded the vehicle onto a trailer and hauled it from the property. The vehicle is as a 1991 Ford F-150 …

Tom Lowry survived a primary election challenge Tuesday and will face-off against challenger Vernis Mims Jr. in November’s general election. Unofficial results through the St. Joseph County Clerk’s office show Lowry claimed 342 votes, about 53 percent of the votes cast in the election. Runner-up Mims Jr. had 217 votes, good for about one-third of all votes. Meanwhile, Natelege Zaritz …

Voters in the Colon Community Schools district approved renewal of its millage rate for general operations Tuesday. At stake was renewal of 18.561 mills, which funds a significant portion of the district’s operations. The 10-year renewal will affect industrial, commercial, vacation homes that are non-homestead and some agricultural properties. The 18-plus mills generate more than $1.3 million annually for the …

The city of Three Rivers has hired a new finance director to replace longtime former employee, Cathy Lawson. Bobbi Schoon, was selected to the position during the city commission’s July 18 meeting. Schoon had previously served as director of Three Rivers Public Library and before that ran Three Rivers Area Mentoring. Schoon has spent most of her life in Three …

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Jefferson Township. Sheriff Richad Behnke said deputies were called around 4:30 p.m. Thursday to M-62 in an area near Harris Street. Investigators said a car driven by 16-year-old Edwardsburg resident Calvin Andrews was heading north on M-62 and attempted to turn left into a driveway. Authorities said …

Sturgis Public Safety Director Ryan Banaszak and St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman staged a press conference Monday to detail the Saturday night shooting deaths of two Sturgis residents and the Sunday police shooting of suspect David Algarin Jr. The homicide victims were identified as Stacey Mae Ramsey, 38, and Jerry Longacre, 61. Banaszak said Sturgis officers responded to a …

One day after the health department advised people in Three Rivers to avoid drinking tap water, businesses are working on ways to keep their water clean and safe for customers. WOOD-TV said the advisory was put in place Thursday after tests by the city found lead levels that were higher than the state’s action level. The city said six homes …

Great Start Collaboration of St. Joseph County is announcing two programs starting this month. “Connecting With Teens,” a one-day, in-person class, is offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Sturgis ISD building on West Chicago Street. The new course is for parents of teens and is adapted from the concepts of Conscious Discipline to help support healthy …