Transportation/Auto

A bipartisan package of bills that makes boating, snowmobiling and use of other recreational vehicles safer has been approved by the Michigan House of Representatives and sent to Gov. Rick Snyder for consideration. The measures lower the lawful blood-alcohol-content level for boaters, snowmobilers and operators of off-road vehicles from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, the same level as operators of …

A traffic signal at the intersection of South Nottawa and Congress streets will not be replaced with a four-way red flashing light, according to Sturgis municipal officials. City commissioners agreed last week to deny an engineering recommendation to change the signal. Traffic studies had shown the intersection does not meet signal standards. The majority of the board objected to making …

No injuries were reported Friday afternoon in a car-bus collision in Three Rivers. The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. on West Michigan Avenue, just east of U.S. 131, according to Three Rivers Police. The Three Rivers Community Schools bus was traveling west on Michigan Avenue when a car turned left from a business on the north side of the road. …

A 22-year-old man was arrested following a traffic-related incident Sunday. Sturgis police pulled over the driver of a Mustang near on Fawn River Road near South Centerville Road for an equipment violation. The driver of the Mustang attempted to switch into the passenger seat, and during the process, engaged the vehicle into reverse, according to police. The Mustang backed into …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Lockport Township in response to reports of malicious destruction of property incidents over the weekend. A sheriff’s department media release indicated deputies were called at 9 a.m. Saturday to the 16000 block of Woodland Drive, where someone used a pellet gun to shoot out the back windows of several vehicles.

A 10-year-old boy was struck and killed early Sunday near the intersection of U.S. 131 and West Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. The boy, Trenton Holtslander, a 15-year-old sibling and their father were walking across U.S. 131 in the 100 block. The victim dropped something and as he went back to retrieve it, he was struck by a northbound van …

Three people were injured following an accident Friday night at the intersection of M-60 and U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. State police said a semi heading south on U.S. 131 struck an eastbound vehicle on M-60 that drove onto U.S. 131 and into the path of the truck around 11 p.m. The driver of the car, 57-year-old Mark Thompson of …

The city of Sturgis will stage a public hearing next month regarding the removal of a portion of Magnolia Street. The hearing, which takes place Dec. 17, will center on Magnolia Street from the Prairie Avenue right of way to the west property boundary of Carls Park. Sturgis voters earlier this month approved the transfer of Carls Park to Burr …

The formation of a task force, whose members would attempt to raise public support for a millage request to improve county roads, was proposed last week. During their quarterly St. Joseph County Township Supervisors meeting, members talked at length about the two-question ballot measure road commission officials posed to county voters in August. The requests sought a 1-mill renewal and …

Driving too fast for conditions appears to be the cause of a single-vehicle accident that injured two people last week in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to a stretch of Harvey Street in Porter Township, where a pickup struck a tree. Upon arrival, deputies found Joshua Westphal, 26, of Vandalia, had lost …