County Information

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week introduced House Resolution 81 to observe May 4, 2017, as National Day of Prayer in Michigan. The resolution encouraged citizens “to pray in his and her own manner, seeking God’s blessings on our families and government officials for personal renewal, moral awakening, and a new spirit of harmony across our land.” Miller called the …

A 42-year-old Centreville man died over the weekend from injuries following a motorcycle accident. State police said Larry D. Smith died several hours after the motorcycle he was driving struck a deer at 10:20 p.m. Saturday on M-86 near M-66 in Colon Township. His passenger, 43-year-old Aubrey Smith, also of Centreville, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries. Neither person was wearing …

A single-family residence in Sturgis sustained water and smoke damage due to a fire over the weekend. The Sturgis Fire Department was called at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to the 500 block of Market Street, where crews found all residents outside and smoke coming from the eaves of a one-story residential home. Once inside, personnel found fire coming out of the …

A Three Rivers man was arrested after he was spotted by officers who knew he was wanted on an outstanding warrant. According to a Three Rivers Police Department media release, an officer on the evening of April 28 noticed the suspect walking on South Main Street. They eventually took the man into custody after he was stopped on West Michigan …

Nearly two dozen people took part in Saturday’s “Join Hands Day” community cleanup event in White Pigeon. Event organizers said the two-hour cleanup at village-owned Wade and Depot parks included 10 players from Shelly McBride’s White Pigeon Little League 12-U softball team. Village president Tyler Royce said volunteers gathered refuse, weeded, raked, picked up sticks and painted the iron fence …

The 54th Mendon Dust-Off Sunday drew more than 800 cars and many more car enthusiasts to Mendon High School. The old-car show, generally acknowledged as the first major event of the season, was considered a success, according to Brian Stutzman, president of the Three Rivers Classic and Antique Restorers Club, which hosts the annual gathering. Stutzman said the supply of …

The driver of a car who killed a 46-year-old Sturgis man last week faces open murder and other charges. Police arrested Paul Middling, 36, of Three Rivers, after the car he was driving caused a crash at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of South Centerville Road and South Street in Sturgis. Middling is charged with open murder, driving under the …

An area priest who resigned following investigation into inappropriate use of church funds has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000. Richard Fritz is due back in court later this month, after an arraignment in April in St. Joseph County District Court. Michigan State Police investigated the case and submitted their findings to the Branch County prosecutor in February, requesting …

Glen Oaks Community College staged its 49th commencement ceremony Friday. In all, 112 of the college’s 152 graduates took part in Friday’s ceremony. College officials said the youngest graduate was 18, the oldest 58 and average age of graduates was 24 1/2. Three dual-enrollment students and one Early Middle College student were a part of the ceremony. Glen Oaks President …

A Porter Township man died last week after a tree he was cutting down fell on him. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called to the 12000 block of Old 112 shortly after 2 p.m. Friday. Deputies arrived to find 83-year-old Gordon Jackson deceased. An investigation at the scene along with physical evidence indicated that Jackson was in …