Government

Authorities say they have five suspects in the 1983 death of a teenager who may have been intentionally struck by a vehicle in southwestern Michigan. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas tells WOOD-TV the case has been forwarded to prosecutors for possible charges. Sheriff’s investigators have said they believe 16-year-old Erik Cross was intentionally struck by a vehicle near Vicksburg. Erik’s …

St. Joseph County appears ready to part ways with its longtime medical examiner, John Robertson. The issue was discussed during Wednesday’s county commission executive committee meeting, where prosecutor John McDonough proposed aligning with a Kalamazoo County-based source for M.E. services. McDonough introduced Joyce deJong, medical examiner of Kalamazoo County and three other counties. She is also pathology chair and professor …

A Sherman Township official has pleaded not guilty to a charge of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a charitable organization. Bruce Bart, 49, appeared Tuesday before St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton for arraignment after a notice to appear was issued by prosecutor John McDonough. According to court officials, Bart is accused of …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services has announced the start date of its twice-a-year hydrant flushing. The flushing will begin at 11 p.m. Monday next week. DPS officials said they expect flushing to continue through May 6, with the work taking place Sundays thru Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Due to many variables, the department is not …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wishes to remind parents and caregivers of techniques that can help to substantially reduce the infant death rate in the three-county region and across the state. After years of significant decline, Michigan’s infant-death rate has held relatively steady since 2004, indicating that not all parents and caregivers are getting the message about safe sleep …

Callers can be heard pleading to 911 dispatchers for help after a woman was shot outside an apartment complex during one of three shootings that left six people dead and two wounded in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area in February. The 911 calls were released Tuesday. In one, a woman can be heard telling a shooting victim, “Please don’t move. They’re …

St. Joseph County was chosen for a pilot program through the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards. The group was recently awarded a $4.2 million grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support 12 initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health for seniors. According to officials from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has received a $20,000 grant to increase testing and reporting of HIV. Prevention director Kim Wilhelm said the funds will also allow the agency to increase testing and counseling for sexually transmitted infections at each of its clinics. Wilhelm said she expects the agency to designate one day a week to provide HIV and STI …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners recently approved the submission of three grant requests to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In all, the requests amount to more than $150,000, not including more than $100,000 county-required matching dollars. County grant writer James Hissong said the first was an appeal to the DNR’s trust fund for development of two accessible …

St. Joseph County District Court Judge Rob Pattison has announced he will stage a “Court in the Schools” session next month in Three Rivers. Pattison on Monday said the session, will involve an actual sentencing from someone who pled guilty to a drug- or alcohol-related offense. The event will take place at 1 p.m. April 15 at Three Rivers High …