County Information

Despite a pair of dissenting votes, St. Joseph County commissioners on Tuesday approved a staffing request for an impending vacancy in Family Court. The 3-2 vote means Judge David Tomlinson and director Tom Robertson can begin searching for a candidate to replace Cathy Coleman, juvenile register. Coleman’s last day is Feb. 28, as she accepted the county’s early-retirement incentive. Commissioner …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has issued a media release regarding the number of water-covered roadways throughout the county. Sheriff’s officials said 12 inches of water is enough to sweep away a sport-utility vehicle. The county road commission has placed barricades at affected locations. The sheriff’s department advises motorists to obey the barricades and find an alternate route. Also, …

Mendon Community Schools board members are learning the potential consequences of this winter’s delays and cancellations. During Monday’s monthly board meeting, interim superintendent Leasa Griffith said the district is uncomfortably close to having to add at least one make-up day in June. In order to avoid the school year extending beyond June 7, Griffith said she has worked out an …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating attempted breaking-and-entering incidents in Mendon Township. Deputies were called Monday to the 22000 block of Kline’s Resort Road, where access into six trailers in winter storage had been attempted. Authorities were called to the scene in response to the owner of a trailer that had been accessed without permission.

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 12:40 p.m. Monday to the intersection of M-60 and M-40. Investigators said a car driven by 96-year-old Woody James of Three Rivers was eastbound on M-60 when it failed to stop at the M-40 intersection. His …

A Decatur man was injured in a one-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Pokagon Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sunday to M-51, near Pokagon Street. Investigators said 44-year-old Chad Strehlke was driving north on M-51 and attempted to pass another vehicle. Strehlke, however, lost control of his vehicle and it exited …

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department this week investigated a home explosion in Milton Township, where one person was injured. Police responded to the 33000 block of Bertrand Street around 6 p.m. Tuesday after neighbors reported hearing what sounded like two explosions. Shortly thereafter, the house caught fire and was fully engulfed in flames. Sheriff Richard Behnke said authorities did not know …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced his monthly in-district office hours with local residents, emphasizing the importance of being available to the community. The second-term representative said he enjoys the opportunity to connect with people and hear what matters most to them. Miller will hold office hours 8 to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 24 at Baker’s Rhapsody in Dowagiac, and from …

A Three Rivers-area man, informally known as “The Bicycle Man” died Tuesday after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a pickup Friday evening in Park Township. Bob Kellogg, 53, was commonly seen on the shoulders of U.S. 131, riding his bicycle, and collecting bottles and cans. Stan Brueck, who runs a Free Store in Three Rivers and found …

Members of St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners appear willing to bend their hiring-freeze directive to aid Family Court. During Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, commissioners heard Judge David Tomlinson explain a potential hardship with the impending retirement of Cathy Coleman. Coleman, whose job title is juvenile register, originally had planned to retire March 28 but has moved up the date …