Government

The sheriff’s department’s annual report tops the agenda for today’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Other matters appearing before the commission include an equalization report, a request from animal control for a fundraiser and four remonumentation contracts. Commissioners meet at 5 o’clock in the third-floor commissioners’ room at the county courthouse.

Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor has stepped up his crusade in support of funding to improve the condition of Constantine Road. Evilsizor last week purchased four campaign signs and placed them at various points along the north-south route. The signs read: “Sorry! County commissioners feel it’s a bad investment to fix this rough road with your tax dollars.” He said …

Three Rivers Police Chief Tom Bringman wishes to inform local businesses about numerous, recent reports of counterfeit bills attempting to be used for payment. Bringman in a department media release said the issue has become prevalent over the past few weeks, during which retail employees have refused what appeared to be fake $100 and $20 bills. Still, Bringman reminded that …

A 74-year-old Lockport Township woman was hospitalized for shortness of breath after a vehicle driven by an alleged drunken driver crashed into her house last week. State police said troopers were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. Friday to the 18000 block of South River Road regarding a vehicle that had crashed into the side of a residence. Investigators determined a 36-year-old …

A Kalamazoo woman died and one man was injured in a two-vehicle fatal accident Saturday in Lockport Township. State police said Patricia Buelow, 62, was a passenger in a car being driven by 64-year-old Keith Lewis of Three Rivers. Lewis was southbound on U.S. 131 at North Main Street at 2:20 p.m. when he turned left in front of a …

An Elkhart man died over the weekend after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a pickup in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said 22-year-old Daimon Leader was driving on M-205 in Mason Township when a pickup turned off the highway, onto Cassopolis Road and into Leader’s motorcycle. The incident occurred at 12:26 a.m. Saturday. Underwood said the pickup …

A 17-year-old Centreville girl was not injured after she ran a red light and her vehicle collided with a farm truck Wednesday in Fabius Township. State police said Hannah Griffith was driving north on U.S. 131 when she failed to stop at a red light at the Hoffman Road intersection. Her vehicle struck a truck turning north from Hoffman Road …

Members of the St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Board made strides Wednesday toward planning an inaugural fundraiser event set to take place next month. Pending approval from the county’s board of commissioners Tuesday, animal control board members will host the fundraiser 6 to 10 p.m. May 13 at the Sturgis Elks. Board chair Emily Frohriep said the idea of …

Two Marcellus residents were arrested on drug-related charges Wednesday following an investigation by the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team. Detectives served a search warrant in the 100 block of West North Street in Marcellus after an investigation provided suspicion that the use of methamphetamine was taking place there. Detectives located methamphetamine paraphernalia, and detained a-36-year-old male and 30-year-old female. They …

The city of Sturgis has hired Viridis Design Group of Kalamazoo to design, bid and supervise construction of a $2 million Sturgis softball complex that could be completed by September 2017. The largest share of the construction cost is covered by an appropriation from the St. Joseph County delinquent tax revolving fund, which also is underwriting a new sports complex …