County Information

The St. Joseph County Conservation District this week announced its 2017 river-cleanup schedule. Following a meeting Monday involving river-cleanup planning members, the schedule was set and features eight cleanups on seven dates. The upper St. Joseph River will be the focus of the first three cleanups, starting June 10 at Farrand Road in Colon Township. It will continue June 24 …

Organizers behind the 61st Three Rivers Water Festival have announced the theme for the 2017 event. Slated to begin June 15 as St. Joseph County’s first of eight community festivals, the 2017 Water Festival theme is “TR Looks to the Future.” Water Festival Committee members encourage participants to incorporate a futuristic theme in their events, especially during the opening-night parade. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has been named to the House Appropriations Committee by Speaker Tom Leonard, and will again serve as chair of the State Police Appropriations Subcommittee. Miller also will serve as a member of the subcommittees on School Aid and Michigan Department of Education; Judiciary; and Higher Education. In addition he was named chair of the House Elections …

Alcohol appears to be a factor in a single-vehicle accident involving a Coldwater man Tuesday in Branch County. State police said John Bertich, 34, was driving south shortly after 8 p.m. on Batavia Road near the intersection of Central Road in Batavia Township. Police said Bertich failed to stop at the intersection and his vehicle crashed into a tree on …

Fire destroyed a home earlier this week in Mottville Township. Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday, White Pigeon firefighters were called to a home in the 13000 block of Anderson Road. Flames were coming from the home when firefighters arrived. Officials believe the blaze began on the east side in a living room area. Two residents were home at the time …

Investigators with Michigan State Police were called in response to a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this week in Burr Oak Township. The episode occurred between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday at a residence in the 30000 block of Lafayette Road. The victim told authorities jewelry and other personal items were stolen. A department media release did not indicate how access …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering situation in Fabius Township. Deputies were called shortly after 8 p.m. Monday to the 61000 block of Youngman Road. It was determined a number of electronic items were stolen from the premises. No additional information related to the incident was available.

The new-look St. Joseph County Road Commission headquarters in Centreville and an adjacent barn for equipment storage received high praise during a tour for township supervisors Tuesday. The two projects were at the center of the event, led by road commission officials and board members. It featured a look at the 24,000-square-foot barn and a fully rehabilitated administrative office. The …

Three Rivers police last weekend arrested an Indiana man on a drug-related charge. According to a department media release, a vehicle was stopped Sunday near the intersection of South Constantine and Millard streets for a traffic violation. The officer who initiated the stop noticed suspicious behavior by one of the three occupants inside the vehicle. Upon further investigation, a 30-year-old …

Members of the White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education this evening are expected to approve a resolution seeking renewal of a sinking-fund millage in May. Superintendent Jon Keyer said board members will decide what to include in the May 2 vote, when they plan to seek approval of a five-year, 3-mill, sinking-fund-renewal request. Keyer said based on feedback provided …