Two Sturgis men were charged with drug-related offenses after the vehicle they were in was stopped by state police last week in Sherman Township. According to a department media release, the vehicle was stopped around 10 p.m. Friday on Balk Road, not far from Featherstone Road, for defective exhaust. Troopers noticed meth-making ingredients, which they verified after being given consent …

A rural Constantine man was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo early Saturday after a one-car crash in the village of Constantine. Police said Darrell Wood, age 26, was the lone passenger in a vehicle that was eastbound on Riverside Drive when he failed to negotiate a curve at Sixth Street around 1:30 a.m. His vehicle clipped a tree …

A pair of 14-year-old girls learned the dangers of currents on Lake Michigan while sunbathing on Mother’s Day in New Buffalo Township. The raft they were using caught a current and was taken roughly 300 yards offshore into Lake Michigan as they were sleeping on it. The girls had no paddles and were not wearing life jackets but they did …

Geraldine(Hoff) Pelfrey, age 62, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday, May 11th, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Geraldine was born in LaPorte, IN on August 29, 1951, a daughter of Betty Jean (Goodremont) and Robert Hoff. She attended Lakeland Schools in La Grange. On On August 6, 1968 she married Roy Pelfrey in Brimfield, Indiana. Geraldine worked as a …

Karen K. Jacobs, age 66, of Marcellus, MI passed away Sunday, May 11, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, MI She was born July 23, 1947, in Kalamazoo, MI to Richard and Evelyn (Ryeson) Locke. Surviving are two daughters, Christine (Gregory) Scofield of Marcellus and Shari (Jerry) Alm of Lombard, IL; four sons, Tim (Tiffany) Huston of Mendon, MI, Tom …

The driver of a stolen vehicle remains at large after he eluded police during a two-county pursuit last week. State police troopers said the man was seen around 7 p.m. Thursday driving a vehicle reported stolen from the village of Colon. The vehicle was initially spotted eastbound on U.S. 12 near Big Hill Road. The driver headed into Burr Oak, …

The St. Joseph County Animal Control Department has been chosen to receive a $10,000 grant for spay and neuter services. In a correspondence to county commissioners last week, director Tom Miller said the service is performed before animals are adopted from the Centreville agency. Miller indicated he hopes the measure will help increase adoption rates at the shelter. By unanimous …

Three Rivers Community Schools has lost its director of operations, as Steve Lucas took a job with the Cass County Road Commission. Lucas will become managing director of the Cass County Road Commission. He is stepping into a job previously held by Christopher Bolt, who was splitting the task with St. Joseph County. A 20-year school district employee, Lucas’ last …

Several items of value were stolen from a Sturgis residence last week. State police said the incident occurred between 3 and 4:30 p.m. Thursday at a residence near the intersection of Vinewood and Lockwood streets. Access was gained through forced entry. On the same day, a breaking-and-entering incident took place between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the 64000 block …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has reached an employment agreement with Lori Barczak to serve as juvenile day treatment supervisor. During action at last week’s commission meeting, the five-member panel OK’d the employment agreement, including a $41,000 annual salary plus benefits. Barczak’s hiring is under the condition of an at-will employee.