Government

State Rep. Aaron Miller has been named to the House Appropriations Committee by Speaker Tom Leonard, and will again serve as chair of the State Police Appropriations Subcommittee. Miller also will serve as a member of the subcommittees on School Aid and Michigan Department of Education; Judiciary; and Higher Education. In addition he was named chair of the House Elections …

Alcohol appears to be a factor in a single-vehicle accident involving a Coldwater man Tuesday in Branch County. State police said John Bertich, 34, was driving south shortly after 8 p.m. on Batavia Road near the intersection of Central Road in Batavia Township. Police said Bertich failed to stop at the intersection and his vehicle crashed into a tree on …

Fire destroyed a home earlier this week in Mottville Township. Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday, White Pigeon firefighters were called to a home in the 13000 block of Anderson Road. Flames were coming from the home when firefighters arrived. Officials believe the blaze began on the east side in a living room area. Two residents were home at the time …

Investigators with Michigan State Police were called in response to a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this week in Burr Oak Township. The episode occurred between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday at a residence in the 30000 block of Lafayette Road. The victim told authorities jewelry and other personal items were stolen. A department media release did not indicate how access …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering situation in Fabius Township. Deputies were called shortly after 8 p.m. Monday to the 61000 block of Youngman Road. It was determined a number of electronic items were stolen from the premises. No additional information related to the incident was available.

Three Rivers police last weekend arrested an Indiana man on a drug-related charge. According to a department media release, a vehicle was stopped Sunday near the intersection of South Constantine and Millard streets for a traffic violation. The officer who initiated the stop noticed suspicious behavior by one of the three occupants inside the vehicle. Upon further investigation, a 30-year-old …

A number of firearms were reported stolen from a pole barn in Mendon Township earlier this week. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies said the incident occurred at some point during the night between Sunday and Monday in the 27000 block of Michigan Avenue. Investigators said access was gained through windows that were pried open. Numerous long guns and other …

A Kalamazoo County man was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and several other offenses following a traffic stop in Park Township over the weekend. Sheriff’s deputies said a pursuit started around 2 a.m. Sunday on U.S. 131 near Flowerfield Road. Central Dispatch received a call from a motorist about a SUV traveling southbound on U.S. 131 at …

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses after a search warrant was executed Monday at a residence in Cass County’s Mason Township. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team responded to the 19000 block of Stateline Road in response to suspicions of drug activity related to the manufacture and use of methamphetamine. Once inside the residence, detectives located drug paraphernalia for …

Three Rivers City Commission members will welcome a new commissioner aboard the seven-person panel next week. Norm Stutesman was chosen Tuesday to replace Diane Clay as representative of the city’s Third District. Clay had to vacate the seat due to her move to another area of the community. Stutesman, 72, was chosen even though no applications for the position were …