County Information

St. Joseph County’s plan to establish itself as a premier location for softball tournaments and other outdoor sporting events was solidified Tuesday, when county commissioners approved more than $1.6 million in funding toward a four-field complex in Sturgis. The financial commitment to Sturgis officials came exactly six months after it allocated $2.8 million to the city of Three Rivers for …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Jean Logan said the district has established a partnership with the Detroit Lions for a summer football camp. Logan said the high school will host the two-day event starting June 11. The camp is for students 6 through 14 years of age. She said students from all neighboring districts are encouraged to attend the event, …

A Florence Township man who came up short in his bid for the county’s board of commissioners two years ago, announced he will try again. Tim Carls, a 55-year-old, full-time farmer, will run as a Democrat in the primary election Aug. 2. If he is unopposed in the primary, Carls will be a candidate in November’s general election. Carls is …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel said 171 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control permits were issued in 2015, a figure he presented during his annual report Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Other information Wenzel shared included the fact that 25 drain-maintenance permits were authorized to local farmers and constituents last year. The maintenance work was …

The former executive administrator for the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has been sentenced following a charge of embezzlement. Deb Herring, a 59-year-old Schoolcraft resident, was ordered to serve six months in jail, pay restitution of more than $25,000 and be on probation for five years following her release. Herring, whose crime occurred between 2007 and 2014, was sentenced …

Two Burr Oak-area residents were arrested Monday by state police on warrants for drug-related offenses. According to a department media release, John Morgan, 32, and Nickole Collins, 29, were being sought for possession of heroin and marijuana, and maintaining a drug house. Their last known address was a residence on Carpenterson Road. The location or circumstances of their arrest was …

Sturgis police arrested two people following a foot chase over the weekend. Officers were called at 3:30 a.m. Saturday to the 1000 block of Cato Lane, where a 20-year-old man and 19-year-old woman were engaged in an argument. Upon arrival, police noticed the two ran from the scene. They were apprehended a short time later. The man was charged with …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has selected Pat and Glenn Dane of Three Rivers as this year’s “Bruce C. Snook Citizens of the Year.” The Danes are familiar faces in the world of youth sports in Three Rivers, as they are long-time supporters of athletics for the community’s young people. Glenn also has a long record of service as a …

Sturgis residents will see improvements near the downtown district with help from a $50,000 blight-elimination grant awarded by the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority. Three deteriorating residential structures that had become a public-safety issue are targeted for demolition using the funds. The buildings were selected from key areas located within walking distance to community assets and the Sturgis Downtown …

A motorcyclist was critically injured after a car pulled into its path last week in Cass County’s Pokagon Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the incident occurred at 2:10 p.m. Friday at the intersection of M-51 and Peavine Street. Investigators said 34-year-old Troy Duis was driving his motorcycle south on M-51 when a vehicle driven by Alexis Chorba, 16, of Dowagiac, …