County Information

The boat launch at Prairie Lake in Sherman Township has temporarily been closed due to high water levels and local flooding. There has also been a no-wake order placed into effect on the lake. Sheriff Brad Balk said violators of the no-wake order who cause damage to personal property could be criminally prosecuted. The sheriff’s department will advise when the …

The May unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by eight-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.7 percent May unemployment rate was more than April’s 6.9 percent. May’s unemployment rate, however, was eight-tenths of a percent less than the same …

A man who sped away from Three Rivers police over the weekend was charged with fleeing and eluding, and reckless driving. According to a department press release, police observed a vehicle around 5 a.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of Maple Street near Armstrong Machine Works. The driver of the suspect vehicle sped away and while fleeing police, reached a …

A 22-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested last week after attempting to flee from authorities in Park Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said a deputy attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle around 1 a.m. Friday on Carpenter Road, near the intersection of Edgerton Road. In an attempt to elude the deputy, the driver drove west on Edgerton Road, where …

A Cass County man and his wife were arraigned last week on methamphetamine charges, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. Blaine and Kristina Knight, ages 40 and 30 respectively, were charged with possession of meth, manufacturing math and maintaining a drug house. The two were arrested Thursday after neighbors reported suspicious activity at their residence in the 56000 block …

The second annual Sturgis Fest community celebration was a success, despite weather impacting the event’s most popular attraction. Saturday’s scheduled fireworks show was postponed until Sunday due to rain. Otherwise, activities such as bike night, an old-car show, family-fun night and several other community-oriented events took place with enthusiastic public support. The county’s next community festival is White Pigeon Days, …

A St. Joseph County agency had to return more than $200,000 it was given by a fellow department earlier this year. Members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County were told during their monthly meeting Tuesday that more than $211,000 it was issued in April by the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority would …

Two longtime Sturgis residents were named its citizens of the year during a Monday kick-of dinner for the second annual Sturgis Fest community celebration. Claudia Pahls and Larry Franks were honored during the event. Pahls has been an educator at Sturgis High School since 1980, most recently serving as a career prep coordinator. Franks is past president of Burr Oak …

A 28-year-old St. Joseph County man suspected of robbing the Centreville Shell Mart has been arrested in Chicago. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Chicago Police arrested Demetrius Banks Saturday night outside a residence in the city. Banks was caught in the backyard of a residence where police were called to report a suspicious person on the property. Banks, …

Members of the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County are making a public appeal for donations to help control the population of feral and free-roaming cats within the county. The number of feral and free-roaming cats in the county is at a crisis level, according to ARF members, who are soliciting $10 donations from the public to help cover …