Government

A 39-year-old Three Rivers woman died over the weekend after the bicycle she was riding was struck by a vehicle. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the incident occurred at 11 p.m. Friday at the intersection of U.S. 131 and Millard Road in Fabius Township. Investigators said the driver of the van was a 66-year-old White Pigeon man. Neither he nor a …

The search for a 73-year-old Three Rivers woman – missing since late May – has concluded with the discovery of her body. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said search-and-rescue personnel with Christian Aid Ministries located a body believed to be that of Marilee Furlong in a wooded area off Miller Road in Cass County’s Marcellus Township. The body was discovered around 7:30 …

Deputy Dan Herman was named St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department “Employee of the Month” for April. The award was presented by Undersheriff Jason Bingaman and Capt. TJ Baker last week. Herman was nominated after he responded to a 911 call regarding a female running from a male who had fired a gun. No one was at the location when Herman …

A building that housed a diner and two upper-level apartment units was destroyed by fire early Friday in Burr Oak. Three people were present in the apartments at the time of the blaze, but were able to escape safely, fire officials said. Burr Oak Township Fire Department was dispatched to the fire shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered flames …

Michigan State Police is conducting a joint investigation with Michigan’s Department of Corrections into an incident of smuggling contraband into the Lakeland correctional facility in Coldwater. The suspect is a 69-year-old attorney from Livonia. The attorney faces felony offenses involving illegal controlled substances being brought into the prison under the guise of an attorney-client visit. The investigation started last month, …

Authorities are investigating the theft of a kayak taken last week in Florence Township. Michigan State Police troopers were called to the 16000 block of Mintdale Road in response to a kayak stolen between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday. The kayak is a Wilderness Systems Pungo 120, light blue in color with black accents. A double paddle, black in …

Sturgis Planning Commission members this week voted to not recommend urban chickens in town. Despite Monday’s vote, members of the Sturgis City Commission may proceed as they wish, as the planning commission is a recommending body to aid city commissioners in making an informed decision. If the city commission decides to move forward, the planning commission would support the measure …

A Sturgis man was injured last weekend after failing to stop at a stop sign in LaGrange County. Authorities said Jamie Espinal-Albor, 33, was driving north on LaGrange County Road 100 East on Saturday when he failed to stop at the intersection of State Road 120. Espinal-Albor’s vehicle pulled into the path of an eastbound sheriff’s department SUV. Its lights …

A union leader representing several St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department employees questioned the county board about not sharing a portion of federal funds the county received last year. Greg Algier, representing Police Officers Association of Michigan and Command Officers Association of Michigan, told commissioners Tuesday he is hopeful consideration will still be given to financially rewarding the union employees. Algier …

The family of an elderly woman, missing since late May, is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the sheriff’s office is continuing its search for 73-year-old Marilee Furlong, who was last seen May 29 in the area of Flatbush Road in Flowerfield Township. Bingaman said Furlong’s family is offering a $10,000 reward …