A number of minor details were taken care of at Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. First, commissioners approved the $8,900 purchase of a mobile/video recording system for animal control officer Greg Musser and his vehicle. Commissioners also approved an exception to the hiring freeze, granting undersheriff Jason Bingaman’s request for a typist/clerk. The position pays about $57,000 …

Area law-enforcement agencies responded this week to a report of mail theft. Sheriff’s deputies and state police troopers responded Monday to an area of Mintdale Road near Burg Road in Florence Township regarding mail scattered along the roadway. Investigators found mail throughout the area, which appeared to have been taken from mailboxes in Florence, Sherman and White Pigeon townships. Authorities …

Cheryl R. Bouterse, age 59, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Cheryl was born on September 10, 1961 in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Paul and Mary (Schweitzer) Lederman. Cheryl attended and graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1980. On October 22, 1983 Cheryl married her husband of 37 …

Bert A. Smallwood, age 63, of Bronson, passed away on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at the Edgewood Rehab & Nursing Facility in Three Rivers. He was born Feb. 15, 1958 in McDowell, KY a son to the late Arthur James and Nevil (Johnson) Smallwood. On Jan. 17, 1978 in Clintwood, Virginia he married Sharon K. Heltzel. He had been employed …

Leland Sherburn, Jr., age 81, of Mendon Township, died on Monday, May 17, 2021. Arrangements are being handled by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation Services.

A Constantine man was arrested this week after leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit that originated in Constantine Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies early Sunday morning attempted to stop a vehicle for a speeding violation in the 14000 block of North River Road. The pursuit covered several miles, Lillywhite said, and reached high speeds as it continued into Mottville …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies were involved in a pursuit last weekend that ended in Mottville Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said the incident started Saturday evening when deputies attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation near the intersection of Dickinson Road and Burke Road. The suspect’s vehicle traveled a number of miles before the pursuit ended in …

State police troopers are investigating the larceny of a catalytic converter from a location in Mendon Township. The incident took place Thursday night or Friday morning last week in the 24000 block of Clark Road. Troopers said there is a notable rise in theft of catalytic converters in the region.

The woman responsible for the largest animal-hoarding incident in St. Joseph County Animal Control’s history was sentenced last week. Appearing Friday before circuit court judge Paul Stutesman, Diane Pitone was ordered to pay restitution of nearly $5,000 to the Centreville-based animal-control agency. Taking into consideration a number of factors, Stutesman did not order jail time or probation. Appearing via Zoom …

Stretches of five different rivers will be targeted for the 11th season of the St. Joseph County Conservation District’s River Cleanup program. Scheduled to begin in June, the 11th cleanup season will feature two June sessions, one in July and wrap up with a pair of weekday events in August. Carolyn Grace, conservation district executive director, said the schedule is: …