County Information

Investigators with the White Pigeon detachment of the Michigan State Police agency were called to a Lockport Township business last week in response to a break-in and theft. Around 8 a.m. Friday, MSP personnel were called to Eagle Auto Parts after an employee noticed a 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck and a variety of hand tools were taken from the premises. …

A spring completion date for the Three Rivers Menard’s home-improvement store appears to be on track. Construction officials said construction of the 215,000-square-foot business is on pace to open in April, as projected. The store is under construction on the south side of Broadway Road, just west of U.S. 131. Development started in July. The new Menard’s is expected to …

A state report that gauges the well-being of Michigan’s children shows St. Joseph County falls in the lowest third of all the counties in the state. The annual Kids Count in Michigan report indicates St. Joseph County stands 58th of Michigan’s 82 counties. The study takes into account 15 indicators to determine child well-being. From 2005 through 2011, the number …

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said statistics show the effort of the enhanced St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit is making a difference in the number of arrests related to methamphetamines. Citing statistics from 2012, Lillywhite said 18 meth-related arrests were from January through September in St. Joseph County. After the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved funding …

A 39-year-old Mendon woman suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle accident shortly after midnight Thursday. The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said an eastbound vehicle on M-60 at Haas Road had lost control, run off the roadway and struck several small trees. Two passengers, one 66 years and the other 6 months of age, were uninjured. The driver was treated …

A fire was quickly contained early Wednesday at a residence in Lockport Township. Firefighters were called at 12:30 a.m. to the 60000 block of Lutz Road, where fire personnel reported the residence filling with smoke. A wood- burning stove in the basement was found to be the source of the fire. Damage to the residence was limited, firefighters said.

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County bucked a months-long trend and increased from November’s figure. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.6 percent December unemployment rate was a nine-tenths percent of an increase from November. Still, the December 2012 rate was 1.5 percent less than the same month …

A Three Rivers man who played a part in an explosion of a methamphetamine lab that killed another man was arraigned in circuit court last week. Frank Paauwee, 40, was arraigned on charges of involuntary manslaughter, and operating and maintaining a meth lab following a September 2012 incident outside a garage at a residence on South Andrews Street. Magistrate Mark …

State Rep. Matt Lori last week was named to the House Appropriations Committee, and will again serve as chair of the Department of Community Health subcommittee. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, said he is pleased to again have a hand in making decisions that will have a direct impact on how the money trusted to the legislature by hard-working taxpayers is …

The Emergency Care Network of St. Joseph County has decided to phase out its operations. Board president Margaret Schultz said board members have concluded the food pantries serviced by the ECN have become adequately funded without the agency’s aid. Schultz said the ECN locations in St. Joseph County will remain open. She said pantry site managers are expected to seek …