County Information

Security at St. Joseph County’s historic courthouse and its courts building is in store for a significant enhancement following action this week by the county board of commissioners. The boost will cost more than $500,000 in personnel alone. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite told commissioners Tuesday quotes regarding several other precautions – including external and internal security cameras, replacing glass and doors, …

St. Joseph County is expected to help financially with removing the final remnants of a dam from the Portage River in Park Township. The recommendation was made during last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting. The dam in question is upstream from Parkville Road and is actually almost fully disassembled already. County administrator Pat Yoder said …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the rescheduled date of the “Discover the Treasures of St. Joseph County” event. Chamber CEO Christy Trammell said it will begin at 2 p.m. Sept. 18. Modeled after the CBS television program, “The Amazing Race,” this year’s Treasures of St. Joseph County will highlight four of the parks in the county, …

Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County is declaring the week of July 17 through 23 as “Habitat Week” in St. Joseph County. The week will be highlighted by the dedication of three Habitat homes, one each in Sturgis, White Pigeon and Three Rivers. As part of Habitat Week, personnel from almost every fire department in St. Joseph County will …

A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet was hospitalized after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident Thursday in Flowerfield Township. Sheriff’s deputies said 32-year-old Marcellus resident Michael Lay was driving west on Floating Bridge Road shortly before 8 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle while rounding a curve near Pulver Road. Lay was thrown from the motorcycle and …

Two juveniles and an adult are in custody after the Cass County Sheriff’s Department was called to a report of a breaking and entering, and vandalism last week. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the three gained access into Ross Beatty High School between 12:30 and 2 a.m. July 12. Once inside the Cassopolis-based school, the three allegedly damaged technology equipment, fiber-optic …

The courthouse tragedy in Berrien County earlier this week drew the bulk of attention during Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting. The situation garnered more than a half hour of discussion, which concluded with Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite and Sheriff Brad Balk indicating their plan to seek additional funds from commissioners to better secure the county courthouse. …

Sturgis police this week arrested two people after they were caught using an unauthorized credit card. The suspects, whose names, ages and communities of residence were not disclosed in a department media release, were arrested around 7 a.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of South Centerville Road. After further investigation, officers found the suspects were in possession of multiple unauthorized …

The three-day White Pigeon Days community festival begins this evening. Joy Weber, president of the White Pigeon Community Association, said a few major changes are in store for the festival. Primarily, the parade route for tonight’s procession is different from the past because the parking lots at White Pigeon High School are under construction. The work at the school also …

Access from the eastern half of St. Joseph County to Centreville will require a few additional minutes beginning next week. Michigan Department of Transportation on Monday will start its $4.9 million project that involves construction of a new bridge on M-86 at the Prairie River. As a result, a portion of M-86 will be closed and a posted detour will …