Government

Emergency personnel continue to respond to a tornado touchdown in the City of Three Rivers, Fabius Township, and areas east and northeast of the City of Three Rivers. The National Weather Service is working to determine the rating of the tornado. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, but should be completed today. Residents are urged to avoid the affected areas …

Six governmental entities in St. Joseph County will soon receive tax revenue collected from marijuana sales in Michigan. According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, tax funds collected through sales at recreational marijuana dispensaries are to be distributed to 114 cities, 39 villages, 81 townships and 75 counties throughout the state. In St. Joseph County, Sturgis and Three Rivers – …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department have released the identity of the woman who died in a camper fire last weekend in Lockport Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said the victim is 67-year-old Juanita Kimble, a Three Rivers-area resident. Spence said emergency personnel were dispatched late Friday to the 57000 block of Mitchell Street, near the Three Rivers airport, …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety was dispatched Wednesday evening to the corner of Hatch and Maple streets in Sturgis in response to a structure fire. Crews extinguished a fire that had engulfed a two-story house and attached garage. North Nottawa Street was closed to allow water lines to be added to support tanker trucks at the scene.

The minimum-wage rate in Michigan increased by more than $1 an hour with the start of the new year. According to state officials, the standard minimum wage rose from $12.48 per hour to $13.73 an hour. The adjustment is a move to increase Michigan’s standard minimum wage to $15 an hour by next year. Any non-exempt employees must still be …

Fabius Township has renewed a contract for law-enforcement services with St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. According to Three Rivers Commercial-News, township officials agreed last month to continue the partnership for another three years. The new contract went into effect Thursday. Cost for one full-time, contracted deputy and vehicle is about $100,000 annually. That rate will increase by 5 percent next …

A Berrien County woman was injured in a one-vehicle crash last weekend in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Clint Roach said deputies responded shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday to Twin Lakes Road, near Dutch Settlement Street, regarding a crash with injuries. Authorities said 61-year-old Buchanan resident Mary Cloud was driving north on Twin Lakes Road when she lost control of …

The 2025 “Firefighters for Santa,” a goodwill campaign organized by a pair of local fire authorities, was declared a success. In all, 27 families, including 68 children, received presents Monday from officials representing the Fabius-Park Fire Department and Three Rivers Fire Department. Started in 2006, “Firefighters for Santa” helps Three Rivers and Three Rivers-area families down on their luck with …

Sturgis City Commission members recently heard from a group of citizens concerned about vagrants near their businesses. Concerns centered on trash, theft, and a potential threat to women and children. Commissioners suggested staging a work session, during which a fair amount of time could be held to discuss the issue and potential solutions. Commissioner Jeff Mullins mentioned the city conducted …

A Three Rivers man was injured earlier this week following a three-vehicle crash in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Clint Roach said deputies were called at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday to an area on Old M-205 in response to a crash with injuries. Investigators said Parker Blake, 23, of Three Rivers, was driving west when the vehicle he was driving rear-ended …