Government

A Sherman Township residence on Lake Templene was destroyed by fire last week. The Lakewood Circle home was vacant when the blaze was reported around 5 p.m. A pair of ice fishermen noticed smoke coming from the residence and alerted central dispatch, according to the Centreville Fire Department. Investigators from the Michigan State Police are looking into the situation, but …

Kalamazoo Public Safety officers are investigating the early Saturday morning shooting of a young man. Investigators say officers were responding to the report of a large fight before 2:30 a.m. Saturday when they found a Kalamazoo man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say the victim, who is in his early 20s, would not cooperate with authorities and gave no …

A decision on who will be appointed to serve an 18-month term as county clerk and register of deeds could be made next week. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said the four-person team that interviewed finalists Tabitha Wedge and Lindsay Oswald this week will reconvene Tuesday morning and discuss their thoughts in detail. Stutesman, who is obligated …

A river trail master plan was approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The action is a critical step toward St. Joseph County being in a position to showcase and promote its paddling opportunities to canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Put together by St. Joseph-based Edgewater Resources, the master plan was assembled following two public-input sessions during which …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch wishes to advise the public it will be testing the severe-weather sirens this weekend. Beginning at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, sirens in all communities countywide will be activated as part of the testing process. On the first Saturday of each month from March to October, the department conducts a test of the sirens. During this weekend’s …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has begun to install seasonal weight-restriction signs in anticipation of rules going into effect next week. The website stjoeroads.com or the agency’s Facebook page will have details regarding the date when restrictions will be enforced. Seasonal weight restriction permits can be downloaded from the website as well.

Two semi-tractor trailers collided late Monday at the intersection of U.S. 131 and U.S. 12 in White Pigeon. Michigan State Police said Thomas Kruzel, 54, of Niles, was driving east on U.S. 12 and began to make a left turn onto U.S. 131 when his truck struck a northbound semi driven by James Sheets, 61, of Roanoke, Ind. Sheets failed …

A Three Rivers man suspected of committing criminal sexual acts with children at his girlfriend’s daycare center was arraigned Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Cary Jones, 46, faces nine counts of child criminal sexual conduct. Jones is suspected of the alleged crimes that allegedly took place at the Abracadabra childcare center beginning in 2011 until last month. Jones …

The City of Sturgis Department of Public Services is asking residents to be conscious of freezing water lines. With the cold temperatures and the depth of the frost, the risk of frozen water lines is extremely great. It is recommended that residents allow a slow stream of water to run from a single faucet. Anyone whose residence has frozen water …

Joseph “Jody” Hughes III of Colon and Marty Mullendore of Three Rivers have been named St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department “Employees of the Year.” The accolade was announced by Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite. The panel that makes the recommendations is comprised of four road patrol sergeants and four corrections unit sergeants. The nominees are chosen from the pool of employee-of-the-month recipients …