Government

A traffic stop in Schoolcraft last week netted the arrests of two people suspected of stealing merchandise from the Three Rivers Walmart. Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell said an officer initiated a traffic stop at 7 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 131, just south of the village limits, after it was observed having improper plates. Two occupants were found to have …

Authorities have positively identified all five Kalamazoo teenagers killed when the speeding car they were in burst into flames after slamming into a tree. The Kalamazoo County sheriff’s office says that the victims were 15-year-old Marshawn Williams and Jaquarius Hegler, 16-year-old Elexus Hillsman and Cortavian Murphy, and 17-year-old Deztanee Cobb. Cobb and Williams were identified earlier. The teens were in …

A residence was destroyed by fire late Sunday afternoon in Constantine Township. Its occupants were not home at the time of the blaze, which was reported at 5:15 p.m. and took place in the 15300 block of Featherstone Road. Authorities were notified after family members of the home’s occupants, and who live by the house, saw smoke. The home is …

A 2-year-old Indiana girl died over the weekend after she was struck by a car at a relative’s house in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the incident occurred at 7 p.m. Sunday in the 20000 block of Old 205. Witnesses told deputies that the family was having a birthday party at the residence. A family member was …

The Three Rivers Public Library Board has agreed to follow through on the purchase of the Southern Michigan Bank and Trust building. Board members said the building purchase price is $350,000. Additional funds will have to be allocated from its $1.2 million budget for first-floor renovations and improvements elsewhere in the building. The board has authorized Arkos Design of Mishawaka …

Members of the Centreville Village Council have accepted a bid for the sale of timber. Indiana Wood Products’ bid of nearly $52,000 was accepted for trees on village property behind the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. The selective harvest will include mature trees, as well as trees that have been blown over, trees declining in health, poorly formed trees and low-value …

Two Cass County residents were arrested on drug-related offenses last week in the community of Vandalia. According to a department media release, the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team served a search warrant Thursday in the 16000 block of Hodgson Street. While searching the residence, detectives located various pieces of paraphernalia for the use of methamphetamine. During the investigation, a-30-year-old male …

A plan to find a successor for Pat Yoder as county administrator was set in motion this week. During Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, commissioners agreed to advertise the job for a two-week period on the county’s website. Human resources director Teresa Doehring was named assistant county administrator in May 2016 and has served as Yoder’s protégé since then. Though Doehring …

Investigators from Michigan State Police are appealing to the public for help with solving a two-year-old homicide case. Troopers responded Sept. 1, 2015, to 13110 Riverside Drive in Constantine Township, where a family member discovered Lavern Chupp deceased in his residence. He was the owner of Chupp Construction and numerous rental properties in and around the area. Although his residence …

As a follow-up to last week’s Farm-to-Table meal, the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging wishes to thank a number of supporters and donors. Nearly 500 meals were served at COA’s three meal locations, which are in Three Rivers, Sturgis and at Kline’s Resort, as well as the agency’s Meals on Wheels recipients. All food prepared and served last Friday …