St Joseph County

Felony charges against a 65-year-old man charged with criminal restraint of a White Pigeon girl was set for preliminary examination last week in St. Joseph County District Court. A judge will hear preliminary testimony Oct. 6 to determine if there is enough evidence to bind the case to circuit court for trial for Daniel Furlong on allegations that he attempted …

Members of the Constantine Village Council last week reviewed an ordinance amendment to not allow anyone other than the property owner to open a water/sewer account. The amendment includes a provision to allow tenants in rental property who already have an account to keep it, as long as they remain customers in good standing. The ordinance also clarifies whether unpaid …

Sturgis city commissioners have approved a resolution asking St. Joseph County for $1.6 million toward the construction of a proposed softball-recreation complex. The action last week by Sturgis officials comes on the heels of the county commission earlier this month approving $2.1 million to supporters of a new recreation complex in the Three Rivers area. The Sturgis proposal includes an …

A plan to turn the old Three Rivers Hospital into a mixed-campus development was presented Wednesday in Three Rivers. Created by Birmingham-based Gibbs Planning Group, the concept includes a major residential component, restaurant and calls for expanding the property’s sled hill. The proposal received a warm reception from municipal and other community leaders assembled to hear and see the presentation by …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has been notified that four dead birds submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Laboratory have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The positive results mean residents of the three counties should be more vigilant in their personal-protective measures to prevent mosquito bites. While no human cases of West Nile Virus …

Two people suffered injuries following a two-car collision Tuesday on M-66 in Sherman Township. State police said 63-year-old John Parks of Sturgis was driving east on Wait Road at 4:45 p.m. when he failed to stop at the intersection of M-66. Parks’ vehicle struck a northbound car driven by Toni Swope, 57, also of Sturgis. Neither person suffered life-threatening injuries …

Personnel from the Three Rivers Waste Water Treatment Plant responded this week to a report of an illegal sewer connection by a homeowner. The issue was brought to light around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday following a report of a sanitary-sewage overflow incident. The illegal connection was given a temporary repair to stop the homeowner’s sewage from flowing into the Portage River …

Sheriff’s deputies investigated a two-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon in Colon Township. Deputies said Stanley Futymoski, age 76 of Colon, was stopped on M-86 at the north junction of M-66, when he pulled his vehicle into the path of a car being driven northbound on M-66 by Dolores Hochradel, 87, of Sturgis. Hochradel sustained injuries to her legs and back, and was …

Constantine High School Athletic Director Mike Messner has announced the district’s 2015 Hall of fame inductees. John Bauman from the class of 1999, Ben Russell from the class of 1962, 1982 graduate Paul Preston and the 1964-65 boys basketball team – which finished No. 4 in the state rankings – will be recognized during Constantine’s Hall of Fame weekend, Oct. …

The Doyle Community Center is celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2015, and the occasion is being marked with a public open house at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Sturgis site. Director Mike Liston said Thursday, incidentally, is an important date in the history of the facility, as it opened Sept. 24 twenty years ago. Liston said there will actually be …