County Information

Michigan State Police are looking for a driver who left the scene of a crash late Monday in Sturgis Township. Police said the incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. at the intersection of Fawn River and Shimmel roads. Police said Rhonda Weller, 43, of White Pigeon, was driving west on Fawn River Road when she attempted to pass a pickup truck that …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident reported earlier this week in Colon Township. The victim told police she left her house at noon Monday and when she returned shortly before 4 p.m., she found someone had been inside the house and stolen a jewelry box from the master bedroom. Several sets of earrings, …

As expected, the St. Joseph County Road Commission has begun enforcing the seasonal weight restrictions. The annual restriction took effect at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Seasonal weight restriction permits can be downloaded from the website: stjoeroads.com. The restrictions are necessary due to the potential damage to roadways because of the freeze-thaw-cycle common this time of year.

Area police are investigating the death of a 28-year-old Centreville woman early Saturday. Michigan State Police troopers and St. Joseph County sheriff deputies are assisting Colon police to find out more about the death of Katie Jean Alexander-Longacre. Authorities were called to the 1000 block of West M-86 at 2:45 a. m. Saturday after the woman jumped from a moving …

It will take place a month later than usual, but there will be a 2015 Covered Bridge Days in Centreville. The annual festival appeared to be a casualty this year without anyone stepping in to help organize the event. A five-member team comprised of Lori Templin, Cathy Hopkins, Gary Metz, Carol Snow-Penn and Michelle Chupp-Shears, however, agreed to take on …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved appointments to the agricultural preservation board and the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board. Constantine-area resident Henry Miller was renamed to the Ag. Preservation Board for a three-year term. County Commissioner Don Eaton, meanwhile, was reappointed for a one-year term. In addition, five people were appointed to the …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District has announced the dates of its 2015 river cleanup events. The seven cleanups mark the fifth consecutive year of what is expected to be a six-year effort to clean all 150 miles of rivers in the county. Scheduled cleanups and dates are: the Rocky River June 6 in Flowerfield Township; the Prairie River June …

Three personnel matters were approved last Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Tim Barnes was promoted from road patrol officer to road patrol sergeant at $26.81 an hour retroactive to Jan. 27. A salary for Kitty Buchner was also approved. Starting April 1, Buchner will serve as jail administrator as the successor to the retiring Tim Schuler. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller was a visible figure in the community last week. Miller spent the day Friday making public appearances at locations in Centreville and Colon. The 27-year-old freshman representative spent a portion of the morning at the St. Joseph County Health Center in Centreville. Miller was given a tour of the facility and later met with representatives to …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is accepting advance orders for its annual spring tree sale. Though quantities are limited, the advance sale is on through April 1. Nine different conifers – ranging from blue spruce and red pine to balsam fir – and a variety of eight deciduous trees – including black cherry, red maple and hazelnut – are …