County Information

Child welfare workers can’t be sued in the death of a Centreville teen who perished in a fire, even if they knew she was routinely tied to her bed by her parents. According to the Associated Press, Michigan’s federal appeals court has affirmed a decision by a judge in Grand Rapids. The court says the 2008 death of Calista Springer …

A 14-foot fishing boat was knocked off its trailer after it was rear-ended by a vehicle over the weekend on U.S. 12 in White Pigeon. State police said an eastbound car driven by a 59-year-old North Carolina woman failed to use caution after the vehicle in front of her slowed to turn right into a bait shop at 7:30 Sunday …

Two semi-trailers were filled with electronics during Saturday’s twice-a-year recycling collection at the St. Joseph County fairgrounds. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the collection drew a steady stream of traffic during its four-hour window, according to committee member Pat Kulikowski. The event also netted 13,800 pounds of household hazardous waste, 193 tires and 1,500 pounds of …

Sturgis High School went into lockdown Thursday as a precautionary measure after a student reported overhearing a possible act of violence. Superintendent Tom Langdon said the action was employed based on what the student reported to school officials. It prompted what Langdon called a Phase One security measure, considered a low-level threat. Based on a student’s report to the principal …

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a request for a new supervisor position at Central Dispatch, as sought by its director, Jon Uribe. Uribe on Tuesday explained the new position is for the day shift, which has been operating without a supervisor. He said the measure would create an additional position, but a current telecommunicator …

A 54-year-old Edwardsburg man was found guilty last week of 14 criminal counts. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the case against Scott Blaisedell stems from a February 2012 incident, when detectives from the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at Blaisedell’s residence. In the course of the search, detectives found throughout the home and the garage …

Investigators have ruled a house fire last week in Constantine was started by accident. The April 11 blaze at 570 S. Washington St. in Constantine has been ruled accidental, as its source was found to be an 11-year-old occupant playing with a lighter. The fire began around 7 p.m. in a first-floor bedroom and quickly spread to an upper- level …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday authorized $11,000 toward the purchase of nine iPads. Five officials from the prosecutor’s office and four representatives from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit will receive an iPad for business use. Prosecutor John McDonough said the devices will be used as a part of undercover investigations, general and trial …

Two Colon Township residents were arrested Monday on methamphetamine-related charges following a two-month investigation. Thanks to a citizen’s tip, the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant in the 56000 block of Driftwood Drive, where a 61-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were arrested. Pending charges include operating and maintaining a meth lab, possession of meth and maintaining …

A Three Rivers man has pled guilty to an embezzlement charge after he was found to have spent money intended for the Three Rivers Little League program. Clint Roberts, 37, pled guilty last week in St. Joseph County Circuit Court to one count of embezzlement over $1,000 but less than $20,000, court officials said. Investigators found Roberts had misused a …