Government

Sturgis City Commission members recently approved the 2025 millage rate for general operations and street/sidewalk improvements. The rate for general operations was set at 11.08 mills, which will generate more than $3.4 million a year. Meanwhile, the rate for street/sidewalk improvements was set at 2.9667, amounting to almost $945,000 annually. City clerk Ken Rhodes said the rates are slightly less …

Local, county and state law-enforcement agencies in St. Joseph County and throughout Michigan are taking part in a speed-enforcement initiative through July. The federally funded campaign covers the cost of officers, deputies and troopers conducting patrols specifically targeting motorists driving in excess of the speed limit. Patrols take place at various times and in areas where speed violations are common. …

Authorities said drugs and excessive speed appear to be factors in a crash involving a golf cart and pickup earlier this week in White Pigeon Township. Michigan State Police troopers responded at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to an area of Lake Road in response to a crash with injuries The golf cart was heading west on Lake Road when it was …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department officials are continuing to investigate a fatal crash that took place over the weekend in Burr Oak Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said deputies were called at 6:25 a.m. Sunday to the area of Lafayette Road and Big Hill Road in response to a single-vehicle crash. The 20-year-old driver was airlifted from the scene and is …

Two Indiana residents died in a semi-versus-car crash last week in Constantine Township. Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched at 5:40 p.m. Friday to the intersection of U.S. 131 and North River Drive in response to a crash with injuries. Witnesses told investigators that a passenger car driven by a 22-year-old man from Elkhart was heading east on North River …

A man responsible for allegedly shooting three people during a fight last weekend in Constantine has been arraigned. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said Leonardo Duran Hernandez, a 22-year-old Constantine resident, was arraigned earlier this week in St. Joseph County District Court. Hernandez was taken into custody following an incident at 11:50 p.m. last Saturday at the Harvey House …

A trial to start Three Rivers City Commission meetings an hour earlier lasted just one month. Mayor Tom Lowry said the commission voted this week to return its start time to 6 p.m. from what had been – for the past two meetings – a 5 o’clock call to order. Some members of the seven-person commission indicated the earlier start …

A busy night is on tap next week in Three Rivers. Three Rivers DDA/Main Street Executive Director Angi Metty said “Music on Main” makes its 2025 debut 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday downtown. Metty said the event features live music, classic cars, motorcycles and local flavor. Additional amenities include food trucks, local eats and community vibes. The free, family-friendly event …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department deputies last week arrested two people on drug-related offenses stemming from separate incidents. In the first case, the agency received a search warrant for a home on Louise Avenue in Dowagiac. Deputies said they found methamphetamine and meth paraphernalia inside the residence. Authorities said a 43-year-old man was taken into custody. Meanwhile, on the same day, …

Branch County Sheriff’s Department deputies recently recovered weapons and drugs at a Coldwater Township residence. Items retrieved include multiple firearms, stolen property and a significant quantity of methamphetamine, investigators said. Occupants of the home are expected to be charged with possession of stolen property, possession of drugs with intent to deliver and firearms-related offenses, sheriff Fred Blankenship said.