St Joseph County

Police search for armed man

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Camp Eberhart this week in response to a man with a firearm in the woods near the camp. Sheriff’s officials said deputies responded to the Fabius Township property shortly after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The man was described as an older white male, wearing a stocking cap, maroon Carhart jacket and blue …

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Three Rivers interviews superintendent candidates

Three Rivers Community Schools has interviewed two of the four candidates it has chosen as its prospective superintendent. Spencer Byrd and Jeff Rehlander met Tuesday with the board of education and fielded a number of questions. Byrd is currently superintendent of Meridian School District in Southern Illinois; Rehlander is superintendent of Gobles Public Schools. The other pair of candidates will …

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Crash causes service outage

A crash Monday in Fawn River Township led to a lengthy interruption of internet and other services in St. Joseph County. According to Michigan State Police, the crash occurred just before 6 p.m. on Fawn River Road near Big Hill Road. A tractor-trailer driven by John Smoll of Elida, Ohio, was hauling an excavator that was over the legally allowed …

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Sturgis Board approves superintendent contract

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education has reached a contract agreement with Art Ebert, incoming superintendent. During Monday’s board meeting, its members voted unanimously to approve Ebert’s contract. Board president Ann Bird said the sides agreed to a three-year contract, similar in total to the amount that was paid in the last contract for recently-retired Tom Langdon. His last 12-month …

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Police investigate dumpster explosion

State police investigators out of the Coldwater detachment are looking into an explosion earlier this week in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. The incident occurred at 9:50 p.m. Monday inside a dumpster in the 100 block of Oliverda Drive. Authorities said the explosion was heard up to half a mile away and scattered debris more than 60 feet out of the …

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Adopt-A-Highway begins

The Michigan Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program will kick off its 2018 season across the state beginning this weekend, concluding April 22. Volunteers pick up litter three times a year. The next two pickups will be July 14 to 22 and Sept. 22 to 30. The AAH program began in Michigan in 1990. Today, more than 2,800 groups have adopted …

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Sturgis teacher sentenced

A Sturgis school teacher initially charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct was sentenced last week by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Keith Lang was sentenced to four days with credit for time served and assessed $358 in court costs. In February, Lang pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated indecent exposure. As part of the plea …

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Glen Oaks agriculture students get hands on experience

Area agriculture students will soon gain valuable experience by farming more than 65 acres of ground on the campus of Glen Oaks Community College. More than 60 people attended a dinner meeting in late March to hear about the new opportunity for students and to learn about two agriculture-related programs on campus. Reid Leaverton, Ag Equipment Technology instructor, said the campus …

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Constantine Firefighter of the Year awarded

Constantine Fire Chief Mike Haydon was recently presented with the agency’s 2018 “Firefighter of the Year Award” by Bryan Hughey. Haydon was honored March 18 at an awards banquet at the station. Also honored with service pins were assistant fire chief Mark Moore, 25 years; Trevor Arnold, 10 years; Blake Piper, five years; and John Hofmeister, five years.

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Armed robbery suspect to appear in court

A Three Rivers teen will appear in court this week on a charge of armed robbery. St. Joseph County court officials said 17-year-old Austin Palmer has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Palmer was arrested March 19 after he was confronted by security personnel at the Three Rivers Menard’s after allegedly attempting …

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