County Information

A happy ending took place for three families Tuesday in Centreville. As part of the 13th annual Michigan Adoption Day, St. Joseph County Probate Court Judge David Tomlinson invited the public to witness the confirmation of five children among a trio of families. A packed courtroom watched as Tomlinson swore in the new parents and completed an oath that made …

A Three Rivers woman, suspected of stabbing a man last weekend, was arraigned in St. Joseph County District Court Monday. Court officials said Cheri Sparks, 54, has been charged with assault with intent to commit murder following an incident around 10:30 p.m. Saturday in the 900 block of Fifth Street in Three Rivers. Bond was set at $150,000 cash/surety.

Sturgis city commissioners this week approved a $2.4 million contract with a Minnesota-based company to implement a distribution technology analysis for a new water/electricity metering system. The city is replacing 7,200 residential, commercial and industrial utility meters throughout the city utility system. New meters will use radio frequency to transmit data to remote collectors and then to city hall, where …

A 54-year-old Three Rivers woman was taken into custody after she allegedly stabbed a man over the weekend. Three Rivers police said they were called around 10:30 p.m. Saturday to the 900 block of Fifth Street in response to an assault in progress. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 51-year-old man had been stabbed in the chest. The victim was taken …

Two White Pigeon residents were involved in a traffic accident over the weekend in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called shortly before noon Saturday to U.S. 12, just east of M-40, in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators determined an eastbound vehicle driven by Marlin Bowers, 69, lost control, swerved into the westbound lane and his car …

A Marcellus man was injured when the vehicle he was driving struck a tree Saturday in Cass County. Sheriff’s officials said deputies were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. to M-40, north of Gooding Street. A northbound vehicle driven by 50-year-old Malcom Leo Hudson went out of control due to slick roads and struck a tree head-on. Hudson was transported to Lakeview …

A Florence Township resident advised members of the county commission to be cautious in whether to reappoint a member to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. Tim Carls, a fixture at the twice-a-month county commission meetings, told the board last week he has reservations about the reappointment of David Allen. Carls said Allen is busy professionally as well as …

St. Joseph County was awarded a $15,000 grant toward its water trails project. Accepted during last Tuesday’s county commission meeting, the grant was issued through the Southwest Michigan Regional Prosperity Initiative. Parks and Recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said the funds are to be used for improvements related to river-access points such as parking areas, grading of land leading to rivers, …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is scheduled to begin its inaugural Christmas tree sale today. The agency’s first-time event, which organizers said will serve as a fundraiser, begins at 9 a.m. today at the conservation district office. It is located on the south side of East Main Street, across from Yoder’s Country market. Conservation district intern Hunter Stanke said …

Members of the Constantine Village Council last week approved a parks and recreation five-year plan to improve facilities between 2016 and 2020. Village officials said strengths throughout the village’s 38 acres of parks are good maintenance, water access, open space and large trees. A lack of developed facilities was cited as the village park system’s biggest flaw. Several ideas mentioned …