Government

Sturgis police officer Bryan Stuck avoided trial after entering a guilty plea on a lesser charge earlier this week. The 29-year-old Stuck, a Bronson resident, was scheduled for trial on charges of drunken driving and having a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit. Stuck, however, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle while …

State police have closed a Three Rivers daycare following claims of alleged sexual assaults. Investigators said the home-based daycare is under scrutiny after a number of victims have come forward since the investigation started last week. Lt. Chuck Christensen said police were made aware of the situation after a parent disclosed that their child made reference to sexual contact that …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners last week approved a revised Community Mental Health resolution originally authorized during its Jan. 6 meeting. County administrator Pat Yoder said the county on Jan. 6 made its annual appropriation to the county’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The amount was more than $257,000. Yoder said an additional $90,000 to rectify a previous …

Deputies from the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were called last week to investigate a complaint related to a larceny of a motor vehicle. Deputies responded at 4:30 a.m. Thursday to the 14000 block of M-60 in Fabius Township, where a 14-foot U-Haul box truck was stolen two hours earlier. The vehicle, which was taken with its key, was last …

Police say they have increased their presence at Kalamazoo College following five armed robberies on campus. Assistant Chief Don Webster of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says five students were robbed at gunpoint on Jan. 19 within the same block. He says the suspect stole money and cellphones. None of the victims were injured. A university spokesman says the …

Fire heavily damaged a garage and caused minor damage to a home early Saturday in Constantine Township. Firefighters were called to the 64000 block of Youngs Prairie Road about 12:30 a.m. They arrived to find flames coming from the garage. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control and began protecting the home, located about 10 feet away. No injuries were …

A police dog from the Three Rivers Police Department played a major role in the arrest of two burglary suspects last week. Three Rivers Police responded early Friday morning to an active burglary alarm at Triple Creek Convenience Store on South Main Street. Officers arrived and found a broken window. As the investigation continued, Three Rivers K-9 Hondo was brought …

Authorities say an attack by coyotes has killed a horse from the Lapeer County sheriff’s department mounted division. The Flint Journal reports the attack took place around 3 p.m. Sunday at a farm along the line between Lapeer and Oakland counties. Lt. Bruce Osmon, head of the mounted unit, says the horse was feeding around 20 feet from a barn …

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority/Main Street program plans to launch its inaugural “100 Friends of Downtown Three Rivers” campaign in February. The campaign is designed to hit on three of the four goals of the DDA/Main Street program: Building Relationships, Communication, and Education and Awareness, according to Brian Persky, Three Rivers DDA/Main Street executive director. All new members of …

Pat Yoder, who holds St. Joseph County’s highest, non-elected position, was given a $10,000 raise last week. Two weeks after commissioners agreed to renew Yoder’s contract for 2015, his salary for the 12-month period was set at $115,000. He is also given a vehicle allowance of $6,000 annually. The matter was addressed during last week’s county commission meeting. Yoder, who …