St Joseph County

The city of Sturgis has approved a new, three-year contract with its 13-member electrical workers union. The deal includes annual pay raises, but places new caps on the city’s long-term retirement legacy costs. City electrical linemen will get a $2.25-an-hour pay raise. All members will get a 1.5 percent boost this year and 2 percent more in each of the …

Several vehicles and a house were destroyed by a grass fire that spread out of control Sunday. Constantine firefighters were called at 1 p.m. to the 62000 block of Youngs Prairie Road in Constantine Township for a grass fire. First-arriving personnel found the fire had spread across the property. In all, about 12 vehicles were burned in addition to the …

A Coldwater family escaped serious injury late Sunday afternoon after its SUV was struck at the intersection of U.S. 12 and Big Hill Road. Michigan State Police troopers said a vehicle driven by a 25-year-old Sturgis woman was southbound on Big Hill Road when she failed to yield and struck the SUV, which was eastbound on U.S.12. The force of …

Further details regarding a car/semi accident in the Three Rivers area this week are expected to be released any day by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The incident occurred at 5:17 a.m. Tuesday at U.S. 131 and Broadway Street in Lockport Township. In a preliminary report, deputies said a car driven eastbound on Broadway failed to stop at a …

A 35-year-old Colon man, who was later found to be on probation from Eaton County, was arrested last week on drug-related charges in Leonidas Township. State police officials were called to the 50000 block of Fulton Road, where the man was reported to be acting in a disorderly manner and refused to leave the residence. Troopers found that the man …

Deputies from St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department engaged in a vehicle pursuit over the weekend. According to a department media release, deputies attempted to stop a vehicle Sunday on Broadway Road, near Krull Road in Fabius Township, for multiple traffic violations. The pursuit was ended on Coon Hollow Road, near Avery Road, where deputies lost sight of the vehicle. However, …

A fire Monday afternoon destroyed a garage, its contents and heavily damaged a home in the 300 block of Florence Street in Constantine. Fire personnel were called to the home just before 6 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find the garage completely engulfed in flames, which were spreading through the home and endangering nearby residences. Crews were able to contain the …

Sturgis police will seek several charges against a 47-year-old Sturgis man after he fled from officers. About 3:30 p.m. Monday, police were called to Family Video on South Centerville Road regarding a man passed out in a vehicle. Police said they found the man mumbling incoherently. Once he was awakened, he drove away from police. Officers located the car behind …

A 23-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested last week following a one-vehicle crash in Nottawa Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff ’s deputies said the man’s pickup truck struck a guard rail Thursday on Covered Bridge Road, went over the rail, then collided with a base supporting an overhanging bridge sign. Deputies said the base sustained significant damage. The driver suffered …

The River Country Tourism Council recently conducted elections and announced a new slate of officers for the two-year term of 2015 to 2017. Officers are: President Herb Howard of America’s Best Value Inn & Suites, Three Rivers; Vice President Beth Hubbard, Corey Lake Orchard, Three Rivers; Treasurer BK Patel, Holiday Inn Express, Three Rivers; and Secretary Victor Naik, The Hampton …