County Information

A 60-year-old Cass County man died Sunday from injuries after he fell into a pile of burning leaves. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Bobby Quick was burning leaves at his home in the 2400 block of Dick Street in Howard Township just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, when he apparently lost his balance and fell into the flames. A passerby …

State police investigators are looking into a situation in Florence Township, where a small-caliber rifle was fired at a residence. According to a department media release, the homeowner reported two rounds were fired through a living room window, passed through a wall and into a laundry room. One of the two bullets struck a washing machine, the other was lodged …

The St. Joseph County Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect is hosting a pair of parenting workshops later this month. “More 1, 2, 3 Magic” a program for encouraging positive behavior for children ages 2 through 12 years, takes place 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18. “Winning at Parenting,” for a humorous approach to discipline, is offered 6 …

A paddle boat was reported stolen from a Fishers Lake residence Monday afternoon. State police said the manually powered boat was stolen between Thursday and Monday from a residence in the 14000 block of Lakeshore Drive. The watercraft is made of fiberglass, has two seats and tubes for flotation.

Three Rivers City Commissioner Carolyn McNary was selected as mayor pro-tem for the second consecutive term. The action came during Monday’s organizational and administrative-review meeting, when Mayor Tom Lowry and at-large commissioner Linda Gearhart were sworn in for two-year terms. They fended off challenges during last week’s general election to claim their seats on the board. For Lowry, it starts …

Two Sturgis High School graduates have reported they are safe after surviving Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Elsa Thomasma  and Carter Brown sought refuge in the city of Tacloban, which was the largest municipality hit by last week’s typhoon. The two, who are 2008 Sturgis High School graduates, have been overseas in a humanitarian capacity through GoAbroad Philippines. Diane Brown, …

A number of people gathered Friday at Washington Park in Constantine to remember Jodie Parrack on the six-year anniversary of her death. With luminaries displayed around the park, several people in attendance released helium-filled balloons with notes attached, and sky lanterns were also let afloat. The lifeless body of the 11-year-old Parrack was found on Nov. 8, 2007, at Constantine …

A 25-year-old Marcellus man was treated at Three Rivers Health for injuries he sustained in a one-car accident over the weekend in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Christopher Laughlin lost control of his vehicle Saturday in the vicinity of Hoffman and Day roads. His vehicle crossed the center line, went off the roadway and struck a …

A Cass County man has entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to the charge of second-degree murder. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Edward J. Hensley killed his sister, Martha Sexton, in June 2012. Sexton was found stabbed to death in her home in Mason Township. The following month, Hensley was ordered to undergo a forensic examination to …

A 20-year-old man told police he was shot after refusing to give his money to a pair of would-be robbers. Sturgis Police said a call of gunshots in the vicinity of Main and Jean streets was received around 2 a.m. Sunday. A search in the area found nothing suspicious. The victim, however, went to the emergency room at Sturgis Hospital …