St Joseph County

A fire was quickly contained early Wednesday at a residence in Lockport Township. Firefighters were called at 12:30 a.m. to the 60000 block of Lutz Road, where fire personnel reported the residence filling with smoke. A wood- burning stove in the basement was found to be the source of the fire. Damage to the residence was limited, firefighters said.

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County bucked a months-long trend and increased from November’s figure. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.6 percent December unemployment rate was a nine-tenths percent of an increase from November. Still, the December 2012 rate was 1.5 percent less than the same month …

A Three Rivers man who played a part in an explosion of a methamphetamine lab that killed another man was arraigned in circuit court last week. Frank Paauwee, 40, was arraigned on charges of involuntary manslaughter, and operating and maintaining a meth lab following a September 2012 incident outside a garage at a residence on South Andrews Street. Magistrate Mark …

State Rep. Matt Lori last week was named to the House Appropriations Committee, and will again serve as chair of the Department of Community Health subcommittee. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, said he is pleased to again have a hand in making decisions that will have a direct impact on how the money trusted to the legislature by hard-working taxpayers is …

The Emergency Care Network of St. Joseph County has decided to phase out its operations. Board president Margaret Schultz said board members have concluded the food pantries serviced by the ECN have become adequately funded without the agency’s aid. Schultz said the ECN locations in St. Joseph County will remain open. She said pantry site managers are expected to seek …

The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics arrested three subjects during an investigation involving the distribution and manufacturing of methamphetamine in the city of Three Rivers. During the investigation in 700 block of West  Michigan Avenue several grams of methamphetamine were found and a small amount of marijuana. The subjects were charged with possession of meth precursors, possession of marijuana, possession …

A lifelong Sturgis resident, described as a pillar of the community, died last week of cancer. Ray Dresser Jr., 81, was a philanthropist and driving force behind the creation of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation in 1962. His contributions to the city included generous endowments to Sturgis Hospital and Glen Oaks Community College. An attorney, Dresser also served as co-chairman …

Members of the St. Joseph County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services board were asked Tuesday to spare cuts on its clients who are mentally challenged. During the panel’s monthly meeting at its Centreville office, about two dozen clients gathered to ask that a proposed, 25 percent across-the-board cut not be leveled against the budget applicable to their services. …

A man was charged with possession of marijuana after police responded to complaints of a dirt bike being driven at a high rate of speed in a residential area. The name, age and residence of the man was not stated in a Three Rivers Police Department media release. Officers were called to the 600 block of Oak Street Monday after …

Michigan State Police investigators were called to Constantine Township last week in response to a home invasion incident. A department media release said between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, someone broke into a residence in the 63000 block of Youngs Prairie Road. No one was home at the time. A television, video game systems and a rifle were among …