Government

White Pigeon Community Schools has been given a waiver to begin the school year a week before the traditional day-after-Labor Day start. Superintendent Jon Keyer said in addition to the state-mandated additional five days added to the 2016-17 school year, the desire to start Aug. 29 instead of Sept. 6 is to stay consistent with Glen Oaks Community College and …

A day after robbing a 60-year-old Colon woman and dragging her with a vehicle, two 16-year-old Sturgis boys have been arrested. Each is charged with assault/unarmed robbery and use of a computer in the commission of a felony. Authorities have not released their names because they are juveniles. Police said another suspect, a 19- year-old from Sturgis, was questioned in …

Enhanced security measures will likely be employed when the St. Joseph County Road Commission consolidates operations to its Centreville location. Members of the road commission board last week discussed the issue of security, stemming from an incident last month when an estimated two tons of road material was illegally taken from the Colon Township satellite barn. With plans to close …

The May unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by two-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 3.6 percent May unemployment rate was greater than April’s 3.4 percent. However, May’s unemployment rate was 1.2 percent less than the same month one …

Apples, peaches and blueberries are all Michigan-grown fruits that can be purchased at roadside stands with help from a state agency. Through Project Fresh, mothers and children who receive WIC benefits can now pick up their coupons and use them to purchase fresh produce at participating farmer’s markets. Each qualifying participant can receive $20 in coupons that can be redeemed …

A high-speed chase originating in Park Township occurred Thursday morning after sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of gunshots fired. The situation ended with the arrest of a 31-year-old Three Rivers man who crashed a vehicle he was driving in Lockport Township. Sheriff’s deputies said they were called around 11:15 a.m. to the 54000 block of Fisher Street in response to …

A 28-year-old Sturgis man was cited for driving too fast for conditions after his sport-utility vehicle crashed into the back of a car during a rainstorm Wednesday in White Pigeon Township. State police said 21-year-old Christopher Sawyer of Three Rivers slowed his vehicle around 8 p.m. for a car turning left from U.S. 12 onto Oak Road. An SUV driven …

A 25-year-old southwestern Michigan mother has been charged with murder, child abuse and torture in the slaying of her daughter on the girl’s fourth birthday. WOOD-TV reports that Daveeta Lee Walker is expected to be arraigned Thursday. Officers responding March 26 to a 911 call at a Kalamazoo apartment found Kharisma Richardson unresponsive and not breathing. An autopsy showed she …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Rick Shaffer this week presented a gift to his peer, commissioner John Dobberteen, in recognition of Dobberteen’s years of service. Shaffer said he is finding himself in a reflective mood as his tenure as a commissioner comes to a close at the end of the year. On that note, he said Dobberteen has been an 18-year …

Flowerfield Township has agreed to retain the services of Three Rivers Fire and Marcellus fire departments for its ambulance service. A split vote on the matter occurred during a special meeting Tuesday. Township supervisor Carroll Parmeter suggested switching the service to Pride Care based on what he said amounted to a one-year cost increase of more than 2,000 percent proposed …