County Information

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced its plans to invest more than $75 million in 2013 to improve 141 miles of roadways and repair 21 bridges in its Southwest Region. The region includes St. Joseph County. The Southwest Region 2013 program will provide approximately $48.4 million for pavement repair and roughly $27 million to upgrade bridges to good condition. …

A 54-year-old Elkhart man was treated for injuries he sustained in a one-car crash over the weekend in Constantine Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Douglas Griffin was driving south on U.S. 131 at 2:20 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of his vehicle and drove it off the roadway. Griffin was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Three …

Sturgis police arrested a 20-year-old Sturgis man following a vehicle pursuit Friday evening. According to a department press release, officers attempted to stop a vehicle around 7 p.m. Friday near the intersection of North Nottawa and East Hatch streets for an equipment violation. The vehicle sped up and its driver disregarded a stop sign at North Prospect and East Main …

The White Pigeon boys basketball squad is the only remaining St. Joe County team in the boys state high school playoffs, as the Chiefs topped Bridgman in Class C regional play Monday, 41 to 33, in Constantine. The win sets up a regional final rematch from 2011 Wednesday against Schoolcraft. The Eagles topped Bloomingdale in the regional nightcap Monday to …

A half block of businesses in downtown Colon was destroyed by fire Friday morning. The blaze was reported around 9:30 a.m. by Curly’s owners Dan and Kathy Earl, who told firefighters it appears the fire started in the kitchen area. Despite the efforts from nearly a dozen departments, the blaze spread to the east and consumed Five Star Pizza and …

Three children were injured in a two-vehicle accident over the weekend in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said 43-year-old Melissa Sandker of Constantine was driving north on Lutz Road when her vehicle crossed over the center line and struck a southbound van driven by Jennifer Nusbaum-Suits, 41, of Constantine. The incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday. …

The 2012-13 boys basketball season ended Friday for Three Rivers, as the Wildcats lost a district championship contest to Sturgis High School, 58 to 37. Three Rivers finishes the season with a 6-16 record. Sturgis, meanwhile, improved to 14-8 and will take on 21-0 Stevensville-Lakeshore in the opening round of Class B regional play at 6 p.m. Monday at Marshall …

Sturgis officials announced the city flag will be lowered in honor of Sue Bir’s service to the community. Bir, 56, died Wednesday at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was elected Precinct 2 commissioner in November 1989, and also served as vice mayor in 1996. City officials believe she was the first woman to preside over a …

A former St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department corrections officer pled guilty Wednesday to two counts of larceny. Stephen Morris, a 39-year-old Fulton resident, pled guilty in Van Buren County Circuit Court. He was arrested following a Jan. 9 incident during which he stole prescription drugs, investigators said. A 12-year veteran of the sheriff’s department, Morris will be sentenced April 8.

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person responsible for shooting a dog in late January in Burr Oak. ARF leaders are circulating handouts that include a picture of the dog, which was found shot and abandoned. ARF officials this week retrieved the dog …