Government

Cass County police and rescue personnel responded last week to a vehicle submerged in a body of water. Sheriff Joe Underwood said 20-year-old Dowagiac resident Caleb Jones was driving west on M-62 at 1 a.m. Saturday when he fell asleep at the wheel. Authorities said the car Jones was driving hit a guardrail, went down an embankment and became submerged …

A four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle was stolen from a Sherman Township residence last week. Sheriff’s deputies said a resident in the 66000 block of Grey Lake reported that the vehicle was taken from a trailer between the night of Sept. 16 and the morning of Sept. 17

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced that single-lane closures will take place beginning today on the Business Route 131 bridge over the St. Joseph River in downtown Constantine. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the work, which will include beam repair and painting, is scheduled to continue through Nov. 1. Schirripa said the cost of the project is nearly $400,000.

The Constantine Area Community Foundation, a geographic affiliate of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation, is accepting grant proposals from qualifying entities: 501(c) 3 organizations, public schools and governmental units for its 2015 fall grant period. Areas of focus for the Constantine Area Community Foundation include improvement of living and working conditions for the citizens of Constantine; youth and recreation; public, …

Six people, including four juveniles, were injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in Sturgis Township. Sheriff’s officials said a 28-year-old Sturgis woman was southbound at a stop sign on Balk Road and attempted to turn east onto Fawn River Road, when she turned into the path of a westbound pickup driven by a 20-year-old Sturgis man; the pickup crashed into …

Supporters of a proposed multi-field sports complex in the Three Rivers area cleared a sizable obstacle Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners allocated financial support toward the concept. With the exception of Robin Baker, commissioners agreed to provide $2.8 million of $4 million the sports complex steering committee originally sought to purchase additional land and …

St. Joseph County county’s parks system is about to add an unprecedentedly scenic property to its portfolio. Members of the county commission Tuesday agreed to the $330,000 purchase of a six-acre parcel that includes 1,000 feet of shoreline in Lockport Township. The parcel is north of the Langley Covered Bridge and on the east side of Covered Bridge Road. Parks …

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman has denied a request for a new murder trial for Andy J. Brown. Brown, 38, was convicted in July 2014 for the October 2013 murder of Sturgis resident David Locey. Brown was eventually sentenced to between 37 1/2 and 75 years in prison. Brown’s defense counsel of Anastase Markou and John Minock …

Two people were charged with drug-related offenses and an unspecified number of children were taken from a Fabius Township residence raided by police earlier this week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant after they were provided information by parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections …

A longtime county employee familiar to animal lovers in St. Joseph County has announced his retirement. Animal control director Tom Miller is retiring Oct. 20 following a 28-year career with the Centreville-based agency. Human resources director Teresa Doehring plans to seek approval from county commissioners to begin searching for a new director The 60-year-old Miller currently makes about $50,000 annually. …