Government

Two people were arrested in Flowerfield Township Monday on drug-related charges. The St. Joseph County sheriff’s department said a 38-year-old male and a 35-year-old female were arrested at the scene of a home in the 53000 block of Pulver Road after deputies followed up on a warrant tip. There, deputies found methamphetamine activity. Through some investigation, deputies were able to …

Authorities are continuing to investigate damage done to about 80 headstones at a southwestern Michigan cemetery. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that a $500 reward is being offered in the case. The vandalism at Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo was discovered Aug. 22. Some headstones were broken, while others were tipped, cracked or chipped. Some headstones that were knocked over weighed as …

A southern Michigan woman faces charges after her 12-year-old son says he was scalded with a hot liquid. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that the boy was treated at a hospital for burns to his chest. His 40-year-old mother was arrested Tuesday at work, but told police that she didn’t burn her son. She is charged with aggravated felonious assault. …

A southwestern Michigan man has been charged in the slaying of his 88-year-old neighbor. The 43-year-old suspect is expected to be charged Tuesday with open murder. 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. Police have said investigators had believed early …

Two people were arrested early Sunday morning in Sturgis in connection with a large fight. The incident happened after 3:00 a.m. where a 28-year-old female and 26- year-old male were in a verbal altercation. Sturgis police said the male pulled a knife on the female and slashed at her, but the female was able to stop the knife with her …

A 54-year-old Centreville man sustained several injuries as a result of a crash in his pickup truck Saturday night. The Michigan State Police said John Kay III was driving his truck on Covered Bridge Road near Leland Road when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a large stump, which caused the truck to vault into the air and land …

One person was arrested early Saturday morning after intentionally setting blaze to a home in Sherman Township. The incident happened in the 27000 block of Oak Drive located on Omena Lake. The 45-year-old man told police he intentionally set the home on fire after having a dispute with a fellow family member. The suspect was medically evaluated and then placed …

The July unemployment rate in St. Joseph County rose by eight-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 4.7 percent July unemployment rate was higher than June’s 3.9 percent. July’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.2 percent less than the same month a …

The Aug. 20 river cleanup of the Portage River was called a success by event organizers. The St. Joseph County Conservation District’s fifth of six cleanups scheduled this summer took place in Mendon Township from the Portage Lake public access to Parkville Road in Park Township. Volunteer and conservation district board member John Nelson said 18 people took part in …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services will begin its biannual hydrant flushing this week. Three Rivers Water Department Superintendent Mark Glessner said the task will start at 11 o’clock tonight. He expects the flushing to continue through September. The flushing will take place Sundays thru Thursdays from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Due to many variables, Glessner said, the …