County Information

A Niles man was arrested last week on several charges following an incident during which he allegedly used a machete to threaten deputies. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said Marty Ray Gipson, 44, was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of resisting police. Deputies were called at 1:15 a.m. Sept. 14 to a …

Students in a number of school districts throughout the county enjoyed no school or an abbreviated school day Monday as part of Kids Day at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. The midway opened at 11 a.m., four hours earlier than usual on weekdays, and students were able to take advantage of unlimited rides as part of wristband day. Fair …

A 55-year-old Lake County, Ind., man drowned last week in Fabius Township’s Clear Lake. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were alerted shortly before 4 p.m. Friday to a report of a person who had fallen out of a boat and struggled while in the water. Witnesses attempted to reach the man but failed, and efforts by …

The purchase of winter salt, cancellation and awarding of a sidewalk contract and a redevelopment agreement at a property at 815 N. Main St. highlight the agenda for this evening’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. Two other matters of new business and nine items under the consent agenda – including the establishment of trick-or-treat hours – also will be discussed …

A Colon man was arrested over the weekend after he was found to be in possession of drugs. Sheriff’s officials said a deputy noticed two males on bicycles Saturday on Lakeview Avenue near U.S. 12 in the city of Sturgis. The deputy attempted to stop the men and they headed in different directions. The two were eventually apprehended and one …

Six agenda items, including consideration of an annexation request by the village of Mendon, will be fielded by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this afternoon. Other matters before the board include an intergovernmental transfer of funds with the Workforce Development Board, the annual child care fund plan and budget, and employment agreements with Ann Happel and Brian McDaniel …

Officials from the St. Joseph County Grange Fair reported a strong opening day, boosted by ideal temperatures in the mid-70s. Sunday’s opening of the seven-day tradition in Centreville is the start of what fair manager Bill Johnson said he hopes is a great week of family fun. Today’s grandstand highlight is SJO Motorcross, which starts at 7 p.m. Cost is …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week hailed passage of a bill by the House Committee on Appropriations that provides health-care coverage for the spouse and dependents of public-safety officers killed in the line of duty only if the family has no other present coverage and only for a maximum of five years. Miller said the panel’s strong bipartisan approval of …

Sheriff’s department deputies responded last week to a three-vehicle collision at the border of Fabius and Constantine townships. Deputies were called shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday to U.S. 131 and Drummond Road, where a southbound pickup driven by a 22-year-old Marcellus man collided into the rear of a vehicle that was stopped to turn left into a driveway. Two Iowa …

Doug Humbert, director of the Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant, said plant officials were notified of a faulty air-release valve last week on U.S.-131. The incident was reported at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday. Humbert said the malfunctioning ARV caused a sanitary sewage overflow onto the roadway. Plant personnel have isolated the malfunctioning valve until repairs can be made. Upon inspection, workers …