The Associated Press has detailed the phone calls St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough made following the single-vehicle accident in which he was involved May 11. According to the news agency, McDonough said in the first of his two calls to St. Joseph County Central Dispatch that he experienced a coughing fit and, as a result, lost control of his …

Here’s the weekly update from Michigan Department of Transportation regarding its redevelopment of U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. Agency officials said Stage 5 traffic pattern remains in effect, meaning two-way traffic in the southbound lane of U.S. 131 will continue throughout the length of the project. Also, work related to some utility relocation is possible this week. Westbound traffic on …

Tyler Royce was recently promoted to White Pigeon fire chief. He succeeds Troy Andrews, who recently left the department to pursue another opportunity. Royce was assistant chief for 13 years and has spent 20 years in the fire service. A 2002 White Pigeon High School graduate, Royce is also village president, owns a business and operates the local food pantry. …

A five-year, $3 million project undertaken by St. Joseph County Central Dispatch was completed last month. Director Dennis Brandenburg said the process led to the agency’s transition from Very High Frequency to Ultra-High Frequency, an 800 megahertz system. Brandenburg said including St. Joseph County, about three-quarters of the state’s 83 counties now operate on a system featuring the UHF signal. …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred earlier this week in Park Township. According to a department media release, deputies were called Monday to W.F. Wells, in the 16000 block of Heimbach Road. The suspects entered the building and stole a 2000 Ford F250 Crew Cab, silver in color with no tailgate. It had a 2016 Sure Trac …

A Sturgis company has partnered with the Sturgis Area Community Foundation to generate more than $170,000 for programs and initiatives serving area residents. Since March 18, GT Independence and the foundation have returned $177,500 to the community. John Carmichael, CEO of GT Independence, said his company contributed $100,000 to the local cause while the Sturgis Area Community Foundation and its …

Parent Advisory Council of St. Joseph County, comprised of a group of parents whose children receive special-education services in several diagnostic categories and school districts throughout the county, recently announced its recipients of an annual awards program. PAC holds a reception every May to honor people who were nominated and won awards in various categories. Though it was unable to …

Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant May 7 in the 68000 block of Lutz Road and recovered a stolen trailer. Acting on a citizen tip, deputies went to the White Pigeon Township location and recovered a 2020 Neo 7-by-22 enclosed trailer stolen in September from the lot of Neo Manufacturing. All visible numbers had been ground off and any identifying …

St. Joseph County saw a recent surge in its confirmed coronavirus cases due to an outbreak at a Sturgis manufacturing facility. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s Rebecca Burns brought the issue to the attention of county commissioners during their executive committee meeting Wednesday. Burns said the county’s number of confirmed cases as of Tuesday was 72. Though she was not …

A private foundation has bestowed a $12,000 grant to St. Joseph County Animal Control. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, county commissioners were told the good news from county grant writer James Hissong. He said the purpose of the funding is to build a quarantine room to separate animals upon intake and also overly aggressive animals, if circumstances warrant. The …