County Information

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said the suspect behind an armed robbery Tuesday in the unincorporated community of Union remains at large. The incident occurred at 5:10 p.m. and took place at Hilltop Laundry, located in the 13500 block of U.S. 12. Witnesses identified the suspect as a white male in his late 30s. He reportedly stands about 5’7″ …

Brass and chrome plumbing fixtures were stolen Monday from a residence in Sturgis Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incident took place in the 68000 block of Stubey Road, where the victim was working in the backyard. At some point over a 30-minute period, someone went inside the unlocked residence and stole a bucket in which the …

A Kalamazoo man will serve at least four years behind bars for stealing a car and escaping from custody while on a work crew at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds last year. Adryll Matthews, 24, was sentenced last week by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman to between four and more than seven years in jail for stealing a fair employee’s …

The millage amount to be levied for St. Joseph County’s 911 Central Dispatch service in 2013 will be half a mill, one-quarter of a mill less than what voters authorized in August. Millage amounts to levy next year for four county agencies were set Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. While the county’s roads, transportation and commission …

Officials with the Constantine Area Community Foundation have announced they are accepting proposals from non-profit organizations for the foundation’s 2012 fall grant period. Areas of focus for the Constantine Area Community Foundation include improvement of living and working conditions for the citizens of Constantine; youth and recreation; educational, charitable or benevolent purposes; and care of the elderly. Prospective applicants may …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services reported a biosolids discharge along South Lincoln Avenue at the Three Rivers Clean Water Plant early Monday. James Baker, Clean Water Plant director, said the incident occurred shortly after midnight, when approximately 3,648 gallons of liquid biosolids were released from a storage tank. Baker said staff worked through the night to clean up …

The Oasis Restaurant, south of Three Rivers on U.S. 131, caught fire over the weekend. Information about the incident remains limited as of Monday afternoon, but Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson said area of origin was the kitchen and the incident involved a kitchen hood system. The incident was reported by a passer-by around 10:20 p.m. Friday. Three Rivers …

A three-member panel of judges with the Michigan Appellate Court has upheld the convictions of a Centreville couple charged in the death of their daughter. The court last week dismissed appeals filed by Anthony and Marsha Springer, who were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in the death of 16-year-old Calista Springer in February 2008. The …

Two Sturgis residents were arrested on various charges after they were involved in a dispute last week. According to Sturgis police, officers were called shortly before 1:30 a.m. Friday to the vicinity of North Jefferson and West West streets. Upon arrival, officers noticed both parties had sustained knife wounds. They were treated at Sturgis Hospital. A 25-year-old woman was charged …

The Michigan Court of Appeals earlier this week upheld Doug Stewart’s conviction in connection with the April 2010 slaying of his estranged wife. A decision on the matter was rendered Tuesday by a team of three judges in Grand Rapids. The ruling affirmed Stewart’s convictions for first-degree premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder in St. Joseph County. …