Government

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 …

Two firearms were stolen from a Colon Township residence this week. State police were called to a breaking-and-entering of a residence in the 58000 block of Lepley Road around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. The victim said a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle and a 12-gauge “stagecoach” style double-barrel shotgun were taken. A department media release did not indicate how access to the residence …

Two Kalamazoo officers have been suspended for one day following the accidental death of a 57-year-old man in police custody. Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley says in a release Wednesday that the officers should have recognized James Dunigan’s medical condition and sought treatment. Medical examiners have determined that Dunigan’s May 6 death was caused by medical issues which included heart …

A woman involved in a car-pedestrian accident earlier this week died Wednesday. State Police Det./Sgt. Todd Petersen said 24-year-old Kalan Rider was walking on the shoulder north with the flow of traffic on U.S. 131, near the intersection of U.S. 12, when she was struck from behind. The incident occurred late Monday afternoon. The driver of the car was 37-year-old …

Drug-related charges are being sought against a Mendon man following a traffic stop this week in Park Township. Sheriff’s deputies stopped the car he was driving Tuesday on Michigan Avenue near Buckhorn Road after it was observed speeding. The driver, a 22-year-old Mendon man whose name was not released pending arraignment, did not have a valid license. A passenger was …

The board of directors of Covered Bridge Healthcare last week voted to approve a Patient Centered Medical Home grant from the Health Resource and Services Administration. The $35,000 grant allows the health center to provide all-access care to the community, regardless of whether patients are insured, uninsured or under insured. The agency’s focus is the patients’ health: physical, behavioral, dental, …

State Rep. Aaron Miller is making four public appearances Thursday, including a location in St. Joseph County. Miller will be available to meet with constituents at Burr Oak Township Hall, 208 W. Front St., from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The second-year legislator will be at other locations in Cass County earlier in the day. He will be at the Baker’s …

Eligible Michigan residents have a little more than a month to apply for a credit that helps with winter energy bills. The Michigan Agency for Energy says the deadline to apply for the Home Heating Credit in 2016 is Sept. 30. Those eligible must own or rent the home in which they live and their income must fall within certain …

A southwestern Michigan woman has been ordered to stand trial in connection with a rollover crash that killed a 4-year-old boy. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that 24-year-old Nicole Camden waived a preliminary examination Tuesday in Kalamazoo County District Court. Camden is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death. She faces a Sept. 12 pretrial hearing. Police say a …