Government

The Michigan appeals court has affirmed the conviction of a northern Michigan man who kept a state trooper’s gun that was found in a grocery store restroom. Authorities say Tim Flanagan of Kalkaska County knew the gun probably belonged to an officer when he found it at a Glen’s store in 2013. Police investigating an unrelated matter many weeks later …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission hopes to proceed with plans to seek a 3-mill request for road improvements in every municipal entity in the county. Details of the plan and the Centreville-based agency’s financial state were presented Thursday to St. Joseph County’s township supervisors at their quarterly meeting in White Pigeon. David Yunker, a member of the road commission …

A third person has been charged in the murders of a southwest Michigan couple nearly 13 years ago. 44-year-old Timothy Andrews was arraigned Wednesday in Van Buren County District Court in Paw Paw on two counts of open murder. 66-year old Carlin Noble and his 57-year old wife Roberta were found dead in their burned-out home in Lawton in August 2002. Andrews’ then-girlfriend …

A Dowagiac man was found dead after being involved in a single-car accident at 3 a.m. Wednesday in Wayne Township. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies responded to Lakeview Drive, near Woodlawn Road, after a witness had contacted central dispatch to advise that he had come upon a vehicle off the roadway. Underwood said John Shilney, 74, was unresponsive …

A Cassopolis man missing since last week on Diamond Lake was found alive Tuesday morning on the shore of Diamond Island. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said Kurt DeYoung was located not far from where his pontoon boat was recovered. Underwood said DeYoung indicated that his boat motor quit working while he was fishing last Wednesday. DeYoung told authorities his …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were called Tuesday morning to a one-vehicle accident in Mendon Township. Shortly after midnight, deputies responded to the 22000 block of Marcellus Road, where a vehicle had crashed into a tree. The driver, whose name, age and community of residence was not listed in a department media release, lost control of his …

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s State Veterinarian James Averill announced the Michigan Companion Animal Welfare Fund check-off will fund projects totaling more than $155,000 for 26 registered shelters in 2015. St. Joseph County is one of the recipients, as it will be awarded nearly $5,600. This year’s awards will go to the spaying and neutering of animals, fund …

The driver of a car that flipped during an accident Tuesday in Sherman Township was hospitalized due to injuries suffered in the one-vehicle accident. According to a media release from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, the incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday in the 21000 block of Banker Road. The driver lost control of his vehicle at the …

Authorities in southwest Michigan say a man who went missing on Diamond Lake in Cassopolis last week has been found alive. The Cass County Sheriffs Department says 46-year old Kurt DeYoung Cassopolis headed out to go fishing on the lake last Wednesday. Then, on Saturday, his boat washed to shore on Diamond Island, in the lake. A sheriffs department marine division search …

A 25-year-old man has been arraigned on a murder charge, accused of killing and then burying his brother in southwestern Michigan. The Allegan County sheriff’s department says that Malcolm P. Dotson appeared Monday in Allegan District Court. He’s charged with an open count of murder and possessing a firearm during a felony. Dotson’s jailed without bond pending an April 28 …