Government

Two people were taken to the hospital following a two-vehicle accident earlier this week in Fabius Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, 76-year-old Mary Corban of South Bend was driving south on U.S. 131 when her vehicle collided with an eastbound car driven by Catherine Kull, 61, of Niles. Kull was on M-60 and, according to investigators, …

St. Joseph County commissioners last week approved Schaffer Consulting of Bethesda, Md., to review the financial and operating procedures of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. Commissioners agreed to include the county health department in the study. County administrator Pat Yoder said Schaffer is expected to do a follow-up performance and look at opportunities …

A Colon Township resident, whose plans to develop an operation that would house up to 90,000 chickens, has withdrawn his proposal. The two-barn project was proposed earlier this year by Jonathan Schrock and poised for a location on the north side of M-86, just west of Palomino RV – Division of Forest River Inc. Colon township and village officials, as …

A ceremonial ground breaking took place Tuesday for the South County Community Enrichment Center. County, municipal and commission on aging dignitaries gathered at the Sturgis site for a 20-minute program that included the ceremonial dirt-turning. Making comments to the crowd of about 30 people were Sturgis Mayor Ken Malone, Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus, St. Joseph County Commissioner Don …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced a pair of upcoming opportunities to meet with him at locations in Cass County. Miller on June 30 will be at the Council on Aging in Dowagiac, from 11 a.m. to noon. Miller will then be at Zeke’s, also in Dowagiac, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., also on June 30. Miller said a big …

Three Rivers police are seeking community assistance to identify a suspect wanted for several cases of retail fraud. Police say the man is a black male in his late 40s. He is wanted in connection with several retail frauds in April and June. Thefts exceeded $ 1,000 in merchandise. Meanwhile, Michigan State Police are asking the public for help to …

A jury has found two defendants guilty of murder in the shooting death of an 18-year-old Elkhart man.  Nineteen-year-old Freddie Rhodes and 17-year-old Deante Dalton were convicted Monday after their attorneys declined to call witnesses to testify. They each face up to 65 years in prison.  Rhodes and Dalton were found responsible for the death of Dre Tarrious Rodgers under …

A Sturgis man was not injured in a two-vehicle accident that sent three people to the hospital last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s department deputies said Scott Yoder, 38, was attempting to turn left onto U.S. 12 from M-217 when he failed to yield the right of way to an eastbound car driven by Joanne Mead, 57, of Edwardsburg. Mead …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week praised Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding for classrooms and continues to build a solid public-safety foundation. Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the 2015-2016 budget pays down debt while prioritizing spending for transportation, education and law enforcement. Miller said the budget, after …

St. Joseph County’s newest recreation-related attraction is open for business, as the dog park at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township was dedicated Friday. The fenced-in, five-acre property is divided into a four-acre area for larger dogs and one acre for smaller dogs. Parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said pet owners will have to use their best judgment but …