Government

An Emergency Management Grant Agreement was recently approved by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The $25,700 in federal dollars was provided through the Michigan State Police and its Emergency Management Homeland Security Division, which had a total of $9 million to allocate nationwide. County administrator Pat Yoder said the funds dedicated to St. Joseph County were renewed from …

A request for a fireworks-display permit and two public hearings highlight the agenda for tonight’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. School officials are requesting the fireworks following the Oct. 21 senior night at the Wildcats’ football game. The proposed pyrotechnics would be overseen by Wolverine Fireworks Display of the Bay City area. In addition, public hearings will be staged regarding …

A southwestern Michigan mother and her teenage daughter are jailed after police say they tried to steal $2,300 worth of merchandise from a mall. The adult was arrested Friday night in the parking lot of the Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek. Her 15-year-old daughter was arrested across the street after running from a mall security guard. The pair is …

A water search has been suspended for a teen presumed drowned after he was dragged out into Lake Michigan by strong currents and high waves. Ottawa County sheriff’s Sgt. Cal Keuning said deputies would continue to search the shoreline for the body of 17-year-old Christopher Mimis. Mimis and three other boys were swimming Wednesday evening at Holland State Park in …

A 24-year-old Three Rivers woman was injured in a traffic accident Thursday morning around 4:45 a.m. The Cass County sheriff’s department said Nikkole Reyna was westbound on U.S. 12 when she reached for her cell phone. When she looked up, there was a truck in her lane approaching her, which caused her to swerve to miss the truck. Reyna lost …

Authorities say they have recovered the body of one of two teenage Michigan boys who went missing while swimming in Lake Michigan. Television stations WZZM and WOOD say the body of 14-year-old Vincent Green was found Thursday afternoon in rocks along the pier where the Holland-area teens last were seen. The search for the body of 17-year-old Christopher Mimis was …

Two people were arrested Tuesday following a traffic stop made by Three Rivers Police with the help of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics (SCAN) team. A routine stop was made by police, who suspected some drug activity following contact with the driver. K-9 D’Jango was called in to assist and positively detected narcotics in the car. Police were able …

A 43-year-old southwestern Michigan man has been charged with murder in the slaying of his 88-year-old neighbor. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that Todd Maneke was arraigned Tuesday. Alfred Minka was found dead in August 2013 on the floor of his apartment in Kalamazoo, south of Grand Rapids. He had been beaten in the head. Maneke was arrested Monday and has …

The trial of Westly George, 30, of Three Rivers is now underway. George is charged with the 2015 shooting death of Eugene Jackson on the south side of Three Rivers. Jury selection and opening statements were made in County Circuit Court, there are seven men and seven women currently on the jury before two will be dropped. St. Joseph County …

A 47-year-old Bristol, Ind. man was arrested following a pursuit with Michigan State Police Saturday. Troopers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by Timothy Clair Barrett, which had a defective tail light, but the man refused to stop and fled. Eventually the chase ended on Lane 25, a private drive, where Barrett fled on foot into …