The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is providing refresher training on concealed-pistol-carry laws. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman hosts the free training 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 4 at the department’s training center, 602 E. Main St., in Centreville. Training will focus on a review of laws pertaining to concealed carry, including new laws that went into effect a month ago. Enrollment …

Burr Oak Heritage Days organizers have announced a theme for the 2024 event. The theme is “Living in a Small Town Can be a Circus.” It will center on the book “The Long Road to the Circus,” written by Betsy Bird. The non-fiction book captures the story of Madam Marantette and her ostrich, Gaucho. Its setting is in Burr Oak. …

Michigan State Police and officers from Michigan Department of Corrections Lakeland in Coldwater have conducted a joint investigation into attempted drug smuggling into the prison through the mail. The incident started in May 2023 when the prison received a book addressed to an inmate. An inspection of the book revealed drugs were concealed inside it. The investigation led officials to …

An Elkhart man died last week following an incident in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday to Cassopolis Road and Bullhand Street in response to a two-vehicle crash. Authorities said Alyssa Handschu, 20, of Osceola, Ind., was driving north on Cassopolis Road when her vehicle struck a deer in the …

Three Rivers Police Department recently recognized Bryann Books, who became the 11th certified First Responder Counselor in the state. The counselor program was developed to give mental-health clinicians tools needed to effectively reach and support first responders with cultural competence, expertise, confidence and empathy. Coursework blends the latest mental health and leadership approaches with real-world relevance. Police officials said Books …

Organizers of the twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and recycling of electronics have announced an important message regarding the spring 2024 event. Pat Kulikoswki, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said the county is working with the same drug and lab company that collects household hazardous waste as it did in 2023. Kulikowski said the company …

Michigan Department of Transportation’s Nick Schirripa said the second phase of work on U.S. 131 will take place exclusively in Kalamazoo County and impact traffic flow in and around the village of Schoolcraft, as well as at a key intersection further north at Shaver Road. The seven-month project is expected to start April 15. The first phase of the $51 …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin has issued a statement related to the January dismissal of Deb Davis as assistant prosecutor. Marvin said most people recognize right and wrong, and there are consequences for people who confuse wrong for right. He said it would have been a disservice to the county and its law-enforcement community if he had not fired …

A group of volunteers has begun piecing together the 2024 Three Rivers Water Festival. The annual event, St. Joseph County’s first community festival of the year, begins its three-day run June 13. After considering several options, Water Festival Committee members selected the theme “TR Goes for the Gold” for this year’s event. The theme coincides with the 2024 Summer Olympic …

A 24-year-old Wayne County woman has been charged with a number of offenses after an inmate at Lakeland Correctional Facility died of a drug overdose. State police said troopers on Oct. 29 were called to the Coldwater penitentiary in response to a 57-year-old man who died with no obvious cause. Department of Corrections officials began retracing the victim’s movements and …