Government

St. Joseph County’s emergency management director was given approval last week to attend a national conference this summer. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners passed a motion to allow T.J. Baker to attend the 2016 National School Safety Conference in Orlando in late July. According to a memo from Baker to commissioners, the conference will focus on all aspects …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission repaired potholes in more than 800 miles of roads and removed snow from more than 1,000 miles of roadways in 2015. The information was presented last week to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners as part of the road commission’s annual report. Past board chairman John Bippus said other work completed last year …

A prosecutor says no charges will be brought after state troopers fatally shot a man during a November standoff at a motel in southwestern Michigan. Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic announced the decision Thursday following a review of police reports, lab reports and autopsy results. Police say Marcus Meridy was fatally shot Nov. 18 after firing at police. Meridy had …

Authorities say a 6-year-old girl has died following a three-vehicle crash on a snowy roadway in southern Michigan. State police say Harlyn Radley died after the crash Wednesday afternoon in Calhoun County’s Leroy Township, near Battle Creek. Investigators say a car driven by the child’s mother lost control and collided with another vehicle. A third vehicle then struck the wreckage. …

A lawyer has been appointed to represent a man accused of killing six people in Kalamazoo. Eusebio Solis is based in Battle Creek. He declined to comment when reached Wednesday by The Associated Press. Jason Dalton is charged with killing six people during random shootings Saturday in the Kalamazoo area. Two people are in the hospital. Solis is a former …

A residence in which nobody was home was heavily damaged by fire last week in Lockport Township. Three Rivers and Fabius-Park Township fire departments responded at 11:15 p.m. Friday to the 16000 block of Null Road after the blaze was reported by a passerby. First-arriving crews found the home engulfed in flames. Firefighters had the fire quickly under control and …

Here’s a reminder that St. Joseph County’s Parks and Recreation Department is staging a public-input session Thursday in Centreville. The agency is asking the public for input into the development of a master plan for a newly acquired piece of property on the St. Joseph River. Working in conjunction with the design firm Edgewater Resources of St. Joseph, the county …

State Rep. Aaron Miller hopes to encourage children to read as he makes several school visits to celebrate March is Reading Month. Miller, who taught school before becoming a lawmaker, will visit with classrooms at Eastside Elementary in Constantine; Andrews Elementary in Three Rivers; Centreville Elementary; Burr Oak Elementary; and Colon Elementary schools. Teachers or administrators who would like Miller …

Dowagiac resident Richard Behnke is announcing his intent to pursue the nomination for Cass County sheriff. A lifelong resident of Cass County, Behnke has been in law enforcement for 30 years, beginning in the village of Marcellus in 1986. He has served the past twenty-nine years at the Cass County Sheriff’s office. During his career, he served as a deputy …

Nearly eight full months after she was appointed St. Joseph County clerk, Lindsay Oswald filed paperwork Monday that makes official her candidacy for the August primary election. Her petition turned in Monday featured 159 signatures – 59 more than the required minimum. The move was considered no surprise, as Oswald indicated even before she was tapped to complete the 18 …