County Information

Dense fog, icy roads and drivers going too fast for conditions led to a six-car, chain-reaction crash late last week in White Pigeon Township. The crash occurred around 7 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Lutz and Dickenson roads. Michigan State Police said a semi driven by Raphel Milo, 51, was headed north on Lutz Road and slowing to make …

Emergency crews were already stretched thin Friday morning last week after a six-vehicle collision on Lutz Road in White Pigeon Township. An unrelated crash scene not far from the Lutz Road incident added to the need for fire and rescue personnel. In an attempt to make Lutz Road safe for emergency personnel, it was closed at Stears Road in Constantine …

An Indiana woman died Friday after the vehicle she was driving was struck by a freight train in Pokagon Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the woman, Barbara Schult, of Middlebury, was driving east at 3:44 p.m. on Pokagon Highway when she passed stationary vehicles that had stopped when the crossing signal activated. Schult drove through the crossing, despite visual and …

St. Joseph County’s Friend of the Court had a successful year in 2015 in terms of child support it collected over the 12-month period. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, director Bill Thistlethwaite gave the department’s annual report and said a good measure for the department’s success was based on a financial incentive given to well-performing agencies. He said the federal …

St. Joseph County’s E-911 Central Dispatch wishes to remind county residents that it will begin its monthly weather alert test of sirens this weekend. Agency director Dennis Brandenburg said the tests are discontinued over the winter months but typically resume in March. The sirens are scheduled to be activated at 12:05 p.m. Saturday and will continue at the same time …

Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor criticized the St. Joseph County Road Commission for what he called a questionable effort clearing roads in the southwest quadrant of the county last week. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Evilsizor said the Feb. 24 storm left several inches of snowfall on the roads until it melted later in the week. Evilsizor said he called …

A Niles man was injured after he lost control of his vehicle on snow-covered roads Tuesday in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said 59-year-old Robert Bradford was driving west on M-60 around 3:15 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle near Calvin Center Road. His vehicle slid into the path of an oncoming semi driven by Richard Landrum, of …

A downward trend related to births in St. Joseph County continued in 2015, as 11 fewer babies were born last year compared to 2014. Presenting her inaugural annual report to the county commission Tuesday, clerk and register of deeds Lindsay Oswald provided a variety of statistics related to the three departments she oversees. She said the register of deeds office …

The final information session related to Lockport Township’s vote next week to become a charter township takes place tonight. Supervisor Ray Signorello said township officials will be on hand to discuss the proposal and field questions from 6 o’clock to 7:30 at the township hall. Next week’s ballot question will decide whether Lockport Township becomes a charter township, a measure …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested a man Monday for drug-related offenses in Three Rivers. Sheriff’s department officials said SCAN members had received information about a subject allegedly trafficking cocaine. Further investigation led to the discovery that the subject was on parole. SCAN investigators made contact with the subject at the Three Rivers Michigan Department of …