County Information

Longtime Sturgis resident Mark Dvorak was appointed to the Sturgis City Commission Wednesday. With a seat to the nine-member commission open as a result of Michael Wilson’s move from the city’s Third Precinct, Dvorak received four votes from the commission. Kimberly Wilson received two and Mark Ritter earned one endorsement. Dvorak will serve until the term expires in November 2016. …

The Abiel Fellows Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution has announced its DAR Good Citizens for 2014. Chosen by their schools for their qualities of good character emphasizing dependability, service, leadership and patriotism, the honored students are Kalie Cole of Three Rivers, Kelsey Potter of Constantine, Jennifer Griffith of Mendon and Haley Jo Schlabach of Centreville. The DAR Good Citizens …

Two St. Joseph County school board members earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards. Pete Bennett of Three Rivers Community Schools and Sally Boeschenstein of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District were recognized for their efforts to improve leadership skills, and demonstrate their commitment to student achievement and their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes …

The mother of homicide victim Jodi Parrack said anyone with knowledge of the incident should step forward and tell the truth. Jo Gilson, mother of 11-year-old Parrack, addressed the media Tuesday at the Constantine Police Department. The event was staged following last week’s arrest of Raymond McCann on a felony charge of perjury. A warrant for McCann’s arrest was issued …

Officers from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating an injury accident that occurred last week in Mendon Township. A motorcycle driven by Kathy Kline, 54, of Mendon, was southbound at 8:15 p.m. Friday on Silver Street, when she lost control north of Wakeman Road Kline’s motorcycle went off the left side of the roadway. The bike then flipped …

The right-hand, westbound lane of U.S.-12 in and around the Sturgis diesel electric plant next to Memorial Park will be closed the rest of the week due to construction on the site. The work at the diesel plant site will result in additional, intermittent lane closures of this area for the next 30 days, as well as limited or no …

A Saginaw-area native has been offered the job of superintendent of Colon Community Schools. Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education Monday selected Victor Bugni to succeed Lloyd Kirby, who retired last summer. After a lengthy discussion and 6-1 vote, Bugni was chosen over Mesick Consolidated Schools Superintendent Mike Corey. Board member Wendell Grunner cast the dissenting vote, …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a property-damage complaint from Sturgis Township. According to a department media release, a pickup truck parked near a residence in the 25800 Block of U.S.12 was extensively damaged. The victim told investigators the incident occurred between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday. A potential suspect vehicle – a black Ford passenger car – …

An all-terrain vehicle was reported stolen earlier this month from a location in Fabius Township. State police investigators said the 2012 Polaris Ranger XP was stolen between April 9 and 12 from the 11000 block of Coon Hollow Road.

Sturgis resident Jerry Rial, 24, was charged with a drug-related offense following his arrest last week. Sturgis police said Rial was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after a search warrant was executed in the 200 block of North Fourth Street, according to investigators. Rial was charged with delivery of methamphetamine. In addition, 19-year-old Andrew Kidd was arrested after officers discovered …