Government

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed with the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce to present a St. Joseph County Political Forum. The two-night event will feature candidates for a number of local races. The first, which will start at 5 p.m. May 29th, will showcase the two contestants for drain commissioner followed by candidates for the five-person …

A suspect accused of breaking into two Mendon homes was identified Tuesday, according to the Mendon Police Department. WWMT is reporting that although the suspect’s name is not being disclosed due to an active investigation, the 46-year-old Three Rivers man allegedly broke into a home on East Main Street around 3:30 a.m. Monday. He ran away, however, before deputies arrived. …

Strong winds proved to be a nemesis to firefighters attempting to extinguish a blaze at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds Saturday, according to Centreville Fire Chief Dave Miracle. One merchant barn, Building 42, was destroyed and two additional suffered exterior damage, he said. Central dispatch alerted Centreville Fire at 4:11 p.m. Miracle said he noticed flames on the roof and …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded to a shooting incident over the weekend in Leonidas Township. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies were called shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday to the 30000 block of Longnecker Road. Once on scene, deputies located a subject with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. The victim was airlifted from the scene. Meanwhile, authorities concluded the …

This morning at 5:38am, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to US-131 near Wilbur Road (North junction) for a report of a car vs. pedestrian traffic crash. Once on scene, Three Rivers and Fabius Fire Departments provided medical attention to a 39-year-old male. Deputies interviewed motorists in two separate vehicles which had struck the pedestrian on the south bound lane …

Speed and alcohol were cited as potential factors in a fatal, two-car crash in White Pigeon Township over the weekend, according to investigators. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies were called around 2 a.m. Saturday to an area of Fawn River Road, near Mill Pond Road, in reference to a head-on crash. Upon arrival, deputies were made aware of a 26-year-old …

A Constantine man died in a two-vehicle crash on Friday in Fabius Township. Michigan State Police troopers were called to an area near the south intersection of U.S. 131 and M-60 in response to a head-on crash. Investigators said a Ford Escape was traveling south on 131 when it crossed into the northbound lane. The Escape collided with a semi …

An 11-year-old girl who was hospitalized for burns following a northern Indiana house fire has died, bringing the fire’s death toll to six children, all of them siblings, authorities said Monday. Angel Smith died Friday at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the Marion County Coroner’s Office said in a Monday update. Her death was confirmed one day after a vigil was …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for increased investments in education through initiatives such as free community college for all high school graduates and free preschool for 4-year-olds in a State of the State speech Wednesday night focused on cutting costs for residents. The second-term Democratic governor’s speech preceded a legislative session that may require lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to …

Fire tore through a house in South Bend, killing five children and leaving a sixth in treatment Monday for burns. People, including children, were trapped by flames on the second floor Sunday evening, the South Bend Fire Department said. Five children were pronounced dead. The sixth was taken to a hospital and later airlifted to one in Indianapolis. An adult …