Government

St. Joseph County E-911 Central Dispatch has announced “Text-to-9-1-1” service is now functioning in the county as of this week. Dennis Brandenburg, central dispatch director, said the agency is still stressing the concept: “9-1-1, call if you can, text if you can’t.” He said the “Text-to-9-1-1” concept was introduced to better assist people who have a speech or hearing impairment. …

Discussion regarding the concept of a dog park in the city of Sturgis continued this week, as the city’s parks and cemetery board reviewed pros and cons of a committee’s findings. After municipal leaders agreed to the idea, the conclusions of the committee charged with establishing the location highlighted Tuesday’s agenda. The committee has already suggested Old Depot Park as …

The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising motorists to use extra caution beginning this weekend, as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will head back to state roadways to pick up litter. Participants in the MDOT program will clean highway roadsides at various times between Saturday and July 24 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year. MDOT officials said Adopt-A-Highway …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the latest round of office-hour sessions in the 59th House District. Miller said he will host the informal gatherings July 25 at three area locations: Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee in Sturgis, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.; Rachael’s on East Chicago Road in White Pigeon from 9:30 to 11 a.m.; and The Town Fryer …

A Michigan sheriff pledged Tuesday to review his department’s guidelines for transporting suspects charged with violent crimes after an detainee who was cuffed in front rather than behind his back wrested a gun from a deputy and killed two court bailiffs. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey initially told reporters that Larry Darnell Gordon wasn’t handcuffed at all Monday during the …

A Sturgis man died over the weekend from injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident July 2 in Burr Oak Township. Family members said Jimmy Whitt, 55, passed away shortly after he was taken off life support Sunday afternoon at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Sheriff’s deputies said a United States Postal Service mail-transfer truck driven by 55-year-old Kenelm Digby, of Otsego, …

A 25-year-old Leonidas man was injured over the weekend after he was in a crash. Sheriff’s deputies said Isaac Eicher was driving north on Farrand Road in Colon Township, where he lost control of his vehicle shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle rolled over and struck a tree. Eicher was extricated from the vehicle. Investigators said he was not …

The Michigan Department of Transportation wishes to alert the public about a railroad crossing closure in Cass County starting next week. MDOT said the crossing on M-216 in the village of Marcellus will be undergoing repairs by Canadian National Railway beginning Monday. Due to the scope of work, the project will not be completed until Aug. 10. The posted detour …

Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County is looking for comments and feedback regarding its plan to apply for a substance-abuse license through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. If approved, the license will allow the agency to provide assessment, referral, outpatient, individual, group sessions, case management, early intervention, integrated treatment, peer support, recovery …

Records show a jail inmate who killed two bailiffs at a southwestern Michigan courthouse was locked up on major felony charges. State police records say Larry Darnell Gordon was charged in April with criminal sexual conduct, assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping. Authorities say the 44-year-old inmate overpowered a sheriff’s deputy at the Berrien County courthouse Monday, took his …