Government

A Vicksburg man was hospitalized last week after the motorcycle he was driving struck a car in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Investigators said Drew Davis, 57, was heading north on M-40 near Dutch Settlement Road and tried to pass a car on the left. The car started to turn left, as well, and the vehicles collided. Davis, who was wearing …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a larceny incident that took place earlier this week in Park Township. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the incident occurred Tuesday night in the area of Heimbach Road and U.S. 131. Investigators said a black and yellow compactor and the catalytic converter off a vehicle in the area were stolen.

A man suspected in two weekend homicides in southwestern Michigan was fatally shot after a police chase on a rural road ended in a wheat field, authorities said Monday. David Algarin Jr., age 30, led police on a chase that began Sunday in St. Joseph County and stretched nearby into Branch County, investigators said. “The pursuit ended in an officer-involved …

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 …