Government

Plans to begin pursuing a major addition to a portion of the St. Joseph County Courthouse were approved Tuesday by members of the county commission. The idea calls for a two-story addition to the west side of the current courts building. Each floor of the proposed rectangular-shaped addition would exceed more than 7,000 square feet and be designated for circuit, …

All seven members of the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority Board were reappointed to serve two more years following action this week by the county commission. The terms of every board member expire April 1, prompting the county commission to act on the reappointment Tuesday, their last meeting before the first of the month. Returning to the transportation authority board …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched last week to Mottville Township in response to a stolen semi tractor. The incident, which was reported last Friday, occurred in the 69000 block of M-103 in Mottville Township. The semi is a blue 1994 Peterbilt with the words “TMX Industries LLC White Pigeon” on both doors.

A charge of felony embezzlement has been leveled against Three Rivers High School teacher Sara Freeman following her initial court appearance Monday. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton handled the preliminaries of the case, which involves the alleged embezzlement of more than $20,000. Freeman, 33, is a language arts teacher at the school. But in her additional capacity as yearbook advisor, …

Three people were taken to Three Rivers Health following a three-vehicle crash caused by a suspected drugged driver Tuesday morning in Three Rivers. The person responsible for the incident, which took place at the intersection of South Main and Liberty streets, faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs and child endangerment, according to Three Rivers police. Investigators said …

A former teacher in Three Rivers and Constantine has entered a plea of no contest related to two charges of criminal sexual conduct. David Wing, 59, who also served as an administrator with Marcellus Community Schools, made his plea Monday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court before Judge Paul Stutesman. Wing’s no-contest pleas were in connection to one count of …

Deputies from the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were called last week to investigate a breaking-and-entering attempt in Flowerfield Township. The incident occurred at a residence in the 50000 block of Wetherbee Road. A neighbor reported hearing the house alarm going off and seeing a male suspect running from the house. The alarm was triggered as a result of the …

Four western Michigan high school students have been arrested after a handgun was discharged in a boys’ restroom.  Kalamazoo police say in a release that a 10th-grader brought the small caliber, semi-automatic pistol Tuesday morning to Loy Norrix High School and inadvertently fired it.  Two other 10th grade students — a boy and girl — kept the gun in their …

The Three Rivers Police Department is working with officials from Three Rivers Community Schools regarding a situation involving the distribution an explicit photo of a student. Police said the inappropriate digital photo of a minor was consensually sent, but then distributed beyond the account of the recipient. As many as 12 people will likely be questioned, police said. A summary …

A 72-year-old cancer patient has been arrested on drug-related charges more than a year after police seized medical marijuana plants from his rural St. Joseph County home. Thomas Williams was arrested and charged last week with drug manufacturing and conspiracy. The charges stem from a November 2013 police seizure when officers stormed into his Colon Township home, seizing cash, his …