County Information

Three Rivers police are seeking community assistance to identify a suspect wanted for several cases of retail fraud. Police say the man is a black male in his late 40s. He is wanted in connection with several retail frauds in April and June. Thefts exceeded $ 1,000 in merchandise. Meanwhile, Michigan State Police are asking the public for help to …

Organizers of an annual run and walk in memory of a fallen White Pigeon soldier have released details about the 2015 event. The 1Lt. Jonathan Edds Memorial Classic 5K and 1K run and walk takes place July 11 as a part of White Pigeon Days. The sixth annual event is a fundraiser to support the Edds Foundation, which awards cash …

A Sturgis man was not injured in a two-vehicle accident that sent three people to the hospital last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s department deputies said Scott Yoder, 38, was attempting to turn left onto U.S. 12 from M-217 when he failed to yield the right of way to an eastbound car driven by Joanne Mead, 57, of Edwardsburg. Mead …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week praised Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding for classrooms and continues to build a solid public-safety foundation. Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the 2015-2016 budget pays down debt while prioritizing spending for transportation, education and law enforcement. Miller said the budget, after …

The week-long Sturgis Fest community celebration continues with a blood drive, today’s only scheduled event. The blood drive takes place 12:30 to 5:45 at the Doyle Community Center. Wednesday’s main feature is Family Night, 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Franks Park. Activities will include carnival games, a dog contest and an old-time baseball game at 6:30.

St. Joseph County’s newest recreation-related attraction is open for business, as the dog park at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township was dedicated Friday. The fenced-in, five-acre property is divided into a four-acre area for larger dogs and one acre for smaller dogs. Parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said pet owners will have to use their best judgment but …

A 20-year veteran has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the Three Rives Community Schools Board of Education. During a special meeting last week, board members selected Susan Schmidtendorff to fill the remaining term created by Dave Kutz’s vacancy. Kutz recently resigned his seat, citing conflicts with work. Six people in all applied for the spot, though Dan Tomlinson …

Organizers of the 59th Three Rivers Water Festival are calling the three-day celebration a success. Christy Trammell, director of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, said strong crowds were a part of the festival starting with Thursday’s opening-night parade and concluding with Saturday’s event-ending fireworks display. Trammell said ideal weather and a variety of activities were beneficial to the …

A 30-year-old Jones woman entered a plea of no contest in a case related to an early-morning arson at a Three Rivers business last year. Fawn Mott appeared in St. Joseph County Circuit Court last week on a charge of arson, third degree, from a June 23 incident at the Three Rivers Walmart. Judge Paul Stutesman revoked Mott’s $50,000 bond …

St. Joseph County and its Commission on Aging will break ground at 9 a.m. Tuesday for the senior service agency’s new Sturgis facility. Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, said the amount of monthly rent her agency will pay for space in the new South County Community Enrichment Center still has not been set. Last week, however, Coursey told her board …