County Information

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that took place last week in Flowerfield Township. According to a department media release, the incident occurred between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday at a residence in the 50000 block of Carlton Road. The victim told police a number of drawers were searched and an undisclosed quantity of …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency was notified last week by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services of a case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The case was reported Thursday and occurred in a child residing in Cass County. Agency officials said the incident is the first confirmed contracted case of the disease in Michigan since 2009. Rocky Mountain Spotted …

The St. Joseph County Intermediate School District has announced a special meeting it will stage next week. The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. June 29 at the ISD office on Shimmel Road in Centreville. According to the agenda, the purpose of the assembly is to conduct interviews to fill the upcoming board vacancy. The vacancy was created with the …

Members of the Constantine Village Council have a relatively short agenda tonight. Two action items are included: discussions on the potential purchase of a new fire truck and an update on the village golf outing. The meeting begins at 7 o’clock at the municipal office.

Michigan State Police investigators have been asked to look into the theft of material from the St. Joseph County Road Commission. The incident stems from a situation May 22 at the Colon Township garage on M-66, where asphalt used for road patching was loaded onto a flatbed trailer by a Sherman Township man. The man, an Omena Lake resident, was …

Members of the St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Board expressed their disappointment Wednesday over this week’s sentencing of two suspects in an animal-cruelty case. Two Mottville residents arrested in January 2015 pled guilty to torture of an animal based on negligence at their Barker Road residence. On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman sentenced Jessica Achberger, 40, and Troy Michael-James …

A fundraiser last month staged by the Animal Control Advisory Board of St. Joseph County has resulted in the purchase of two, new air-conditioning units. Loralee Knepper, an animal shelter volunteer, said the $5,000 raised during the May 13 event in Sturgis allowed for the purchase of the 14,000-BTU portable air conditioners. The devices also serve as heaters and can …

A Three Rivers pastor faces charges of criminal sexual conduct following his arrest Wednesday. Three Rivers police said James Bailey Jr., 66, was charged with three counts each of criminal sexual conduct third degree and CSC fourth degree. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred at Three Rivers Bible Church on two separate dates in April and May, according …

Three area residents were arrested in connection with the heroin overdose of a Three Rivers man. According to a media release from the Three Rivers Police Department, a 28-year-old man was found unresponsive Friday evening at a residence in the 300 block of Heather Lane. Medical personnel were called after he had quit breathing. Upon further investigation, authorities found a …

A local high school baseball team will return to the state semi-finals Friday and try once again to bring home a state championship this weekend. The Centreville High School varsity squad Tuesday won its quarter-final contest against Concord, 4-3, in extra innings in Battle Creek. The Bulldogs, who sport a 28-3 record, will square off against Sterling Heights Parkway Christian …