St Joseph County

A multi-family residence was destroyed by a fire last weekend in Sturgis. The blaze started around 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of West Congress Street, according to Sturgis Fire officials. The occupants evacuated safely but the extent of damage was too great and has left the structure uninhabitable. The Sturgis Fire Department received aid from three additional agencies, …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said he will take over as chief of police later this year. Members of the Constantine Village Council agreed to the arrangement Monday, as current chief Jim Bedell is retiring in May. Honeysett, 58, said he will work under a two-year contract as chief while continuing to serve as village manager. His salary will be …

The November unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by six-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.2 percent November unemployment rate was more than October’s 7.8 percent. November’s unemployment figure was 1.3 percent less than the same month a year …

Approximately 100 people gathered in downtown Three Rivers Sunday to participate in a flash mob-style video shoot, led by the city’s Downtown Development Authority. DDA director Christy Trammell said the authority has applied to participate in the Select Level of the Michigan Main Street Program. Adhering to the theme, “T.R. is All in this Together,” representatives from various organizations, Three …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the second consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2014. The meeting had been postponed one week due to inclement weather Jan. 7. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 16th year on …

A residence in the city of Sturgis was burglarized Sunday. According to Sturgis Police, the owner of a house in the 1100 block of Greenlawn Street reported the back door to the residence was forced open. The residence was ransacked, and two cameras, jewelry and a large sum of money were stolen. Police said they were told the incident likely …

An undetermined amount of old coins was taken during the burglary of a business over the weekend in downtown Schoolcraft. Police Chief Bryan Campbell said officers responded to an alarm in the 200 block of North Grand Street at 3:47 am Saturday. Officers found that someone had gained entry into Norma’s Antiques. The suspect fled the building moments before police …

A Sturgis-area native will be honored by Sturgis Exchange Club when it conducts its 71st annual Book of Golden Deeds award ceremony Thursday at Sturges-Young Auditorium. Elsa Thomasma, 23, was selected for the award in recognition of her volunteer efforts in raising funds and building what is known as “Project Ark” in Cangumbang, Philippines. The community center was used as …

A citizen’s tip led to the arrest of three people on drug-related charges Thursday in Three Rivers. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant for methamphetamine production in the 400 block of 4th Avenue. SCAN members discovered evidence of methamphetamine production and use. Arrested were a 63-year-old man, a 53-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman. They …

A Mendon man suffered minor injuries after he was involved in a one-vehicle accident Wednesday morning on M-60 in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Richard Hartzell, 73, was driving east on the state road when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy patch of roadway and his vehicle rolled into a ditch. The incident …