Administrator

Conservation District keeps allowance

A 2014 allocation for the St. Joseph County Conservation District appears to be secured, as agency supporters successfully pleaded their case to county officials Monday. The district was at risk of losing its annual $14,000 allowance after county commission members last week unveiled St. Joseph County’s proposed 2014 fiscal year budget. Monday’s appeal included nearly an hour of discussion centering …

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Family escapes fire

A Florence Township family of five escaped their burning residence early Sunday. Their residence, located in the 19000 block of Haybridge Road, was reported on fire around 7 a.m. and upon arrival, firefighters observed flames coming from the two-story residence. Though officials said it appears the fire started toward the rear of the home, which is undergoing renovation, the cause …

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Contemplating millage proposal

What was expected to be a major decision by members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education turned out to be an opportunity to further mull a proposed millage-increase request. During its regularly scheduled monthly meeting Monday, the board learned from its attorney that the Nov. 6 date by which it would have to decide whether to authorize the …

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Lillian Dentler, 90

Lillian “Lillie” Dentler, 90, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Oct. 17, 2013 at Riverview Manor. She was born in Jones, on May 22, 1923 the daughter of the late Frank and Cecil (Loveland) Sherry. She attended Jones one room school, was married to Roy Hurt in 1942; they were later divorced. She married the late Riley Dentler in …

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Pedestrian dies in crash

A Sturgis man was killed in a car-pedestrian accident Sunday evening shortly after 8pm. State Police identify the victim as 22-year-old Johnny Wood. He was reportedly walking in the roadway of Bogen Road, west of South Centreville Road, when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 60-year-old Sturgis man. Wood was reportedly clad in dark and camouflage colored …

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Man charged in Kalamazoo

A Traverse City man has been charged in the death of his girlfriend’s one-year old daughter. 22-year old Toren Hains was arraigned earlier this month in Kalamazoo County District Court on charges of open murder, felony murder and first-degree child abuse. Prosecutors say the charges stem from a December 30 incident while Hains was babysitting Zoie Johnston at her mother’s …

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Budget cuts in Branch County

A southern Michigan sheriff says he’s discontinuing night and overnight patrols because of budget cuts put into place earlier this year. Branch County Sheriff John Pollack made the announcement at a Monday night county government meeting. In a statement, officials say Michigan State Police are expected to help provide the county with 24-hour law enforcement coverage. The sheriff’s department had …

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Police shooting was justified

A prosecutor has determined that three northern Indiana police officers acted properly when they fatally shot a man who ran from them and tried to shoot his way into a house. Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill says the Elkhart officers used reasonable force against 27-year-old Jamie Benavidez on Sept. 1. The Elkhart Truth reports that Hill’s findings say Benavidez ran …

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Velma Keller, 57

Velma “Pep” Keller, age 57, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on October 17, 2013 in Tennessee as the result of an accident. She was born on Oct. 3, 1956 in Allegan, MI. the daughter of the late George and Margaret (Rex) Hatten. Pep dedicated her life to her husband, children, and grandchildren and made sure that all of their …

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Ceremony for bypass

More than 40 people were on hand Friday to witness the dedication and ceremonial opening of the U.S. 131 Constantine bypass. Several local residents, village, township, county and state officials joined in the ceremony at the south end of the new bridge spanning the St. Joseph River. Those in attendance witnessed a ceremony by the Constantine Free and Accepted Masons …

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