County Information

Six people were injured after the buggy in which they were riding was struck by a pickup last week in Leonidas Township. Sheriff’s officials said the incident occurred Friday in the 52000 block of Correll Road. Two adults and four children in the buggy were transported to Kalamazoo for treatment of their injuries. The 55-year-old driver of the pickup was …

Cass County emergency crews responded last week to an accident with injuries in Calvin Township. According to a department media release, 50-year-old Thomas Wagers of Vandalia was driving west on Chain Lake Street shortly before 5 p.m. Friday when his vehicle ran off the roadway. The vehicle went into a ditch, struck a driveway embankment and rolled over. Wagers was …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the theft of a tool bag stolen earlier this month from a Sturgis Township residence. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. Dec. 3 in the 69000 block of Texas Avenue. The victim told authorities someone broke the window of a vehicle parked at the residence and stole the bag. It was described as a black and …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission discussed the future of the Langley Covered Bridge during their monthly meeting Wednesday. Considering the bridge’s continued maintenance requirements and general repair needs, board members have discussed the possibility of turning it into a pedestrian bridge and putting another bridge alongside it. Three Rivers resident Anna Smith said a new bridge would …

A proposed village medical marijuana ordinance was discussed briefly at Monday’s Constantine Village Council meeting. The discussion relates to the council’s special meeting Dec. 12, when council members considered whether to adopt the ordinance. Initially it passed, 5-2, but after further discussion was rescinded, also by a 5-2 vote. Council members decided it would be easier to start with a …

The Youth Advisory Council of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation awarded its 2017 Fall Cycle YAC grants aimed at funding youth-serving projects in the Sturgis area. This year’s YAC grant recipients include The Children’s Trauma Assessment Group, receiving $12,500 to continue providing support and resources for children who have experienced trauma. Other recipients were Student Help and Healing Center, receiving $ …

A Bronson High School student was killed Tuesday after the vehicle he was in was struck by a passenger train in Van Buren County. Tyler Wirtz, 17, was the victim in the crash that occurred around 7:30 p.m. on North Nursery Street in Lawton. Lawton Police Chief Jeffrey Mack said investigation revealed the truck was stuck on the west side …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident in Flowerfield Township. According to a department media release, access to a house and nearby shed in the 53000 block of Bent Road was gained between Nov. 14 and Dec. 14. Authorities said multiple items were stolen from both structures.

The 2018 fiscal-year budget approved Tuesday by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners features more than $3 million less than the 2017 budget. With a dissenting vote by Commissioner Kathy Pangle, the board approved an $18.6 million general-fund budget for the fiscal year starting Jan. 1. The amended 2017 general-fund budget was nearly $21.9 million, about 17 percent more than …

An Elkhart man died Tuesday morning following a single-vehicle accident on icy roads in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 5 a.m. to the area of Mason Street and Union Road in response to a rollover accident. Upon arrival, deputies found 48-year-old Daniel Staley had lost control of his vehicle and it left …