County Information

Two people were injured following a collision this week in Cass County’s Jefferson Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of M-62 and Hospital Street. Investigators found 18-year-old Brittany Backus of Edwardsburg was driving west on Brownsville Road, when she stopped at the intersection of M-62 then proceeded east onto Hospital Road. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced his monthly, in-district office hours. All three locations are next week in St. Joseph County. Miller said he enjoys connecting with the people in his district and hearing what matters to them. He said it is important to be accessible to every constituent. Office hours will be 6 to 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Yoder’s …

Three Rivers Police K-9 Jake was instrumental in apprehending a man who left Menard’s after displaying a handgun to a store employee. According to a department media release, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. Monday, when a man who was being confronted about a retail theft incident displayed a handgun to store security before fleeing the scene on foot. He …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred this week in Constantine Township. Troopers were called Tuesday to the 63000 block of Constantine Road after the homeowner reported the break-in, which occurred between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Home electronics were stolen, investigators said. Details regarding how access to the residence was gained was not indicated in a department …

A small step toward the new Commission On Aging headquarters and its on-site residences was taken Tuesday by St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners. At the request of COA Director Tim Stoll, commissioners authorized the use of $10,000 from COA’s fund balance to hire a Chicago-based consultant. The firm RealtyMetrix will assist with pursuing New Market Tax Credits. Stoll said …

St. Joseph County commissioners appear to have a brief meeting before them this afternoon. The only item under new business is accepting the annual report from Central Dispatch. In a separate matter, commissioners will discuss whether to appoint Kathy Pangle, Rick Shaffer and Kay Decker to the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched over the weekend to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in Howard Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday to a location along M-60 where a vehicle went off the roadway. Shawn Hoover, 34, of Niles was the driver and 58-year-old David Crespo, also of Niles, was a …

An out-of-state travel request for two St. Joseph County employees was granted recently by county commissioners. The circuit court and county clerk employees were approved a five-day training in Cleveland. The training would allow them to become system administrators on the ImageSoft program. The training amounted to a $6,000 cost and travel expenses were to not exceed $2,000. In an …

The terms of two Animal Control Advisory Board members were renewed by members of the county board. Veterinarian Suzanne Lee and marketing/community awareness coordinator Laura Barley were recently approved to serve three-year terms, beginning retroactively to Jan. 1. The reappointments were made at the request of animal control advisory board chair Emily Frohriep. In another appointment, county treasurer Judie Ratering …

Ninety-five percent of the income St. Joseph County Treasurer’s Office took in last fiscal year was from two sources. During her annual report to county commissioners earlier this month, treasurer Judie Ratering said the department had revenue of nearly $943,000. Two-thirds of that – more than $660,000 – was from delinquent-tax fees, while investment earnings generated the balance, about $235,000. …