Government

The St. Joseph County Department of Human Services board recently voted to provide a total of $3,500 to three area agencies. DHS director Cindy Underwood said a $500 donation was made to the St. Joseph County United Way K-9 Fund. Once the fund reaches $12,000, it will allow for the purchase of a new dog for the Sturgis Police Department. …

The White Pigeon Fire Department collected more than 2,600 pounds of food to be shared with 50 White Pigeon families over the holidays. Assistant fire chief Tyler Royce said the department’s food drive began in November with “Fill the Fire Truck.” Along with the help of local mail carriers, 1,700 pounds of nonperishable food were collected. On Dec. 13, firefighters …

A 16-year-old Sturgis boy and five passengers were unharmed following a single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon in Burr Oak Township. State police said the car was being driven around 4:15 p.m. on McKale Road when it went out of control south of Hackman Road, rolled over and landed upside down in a ditch of two to three feet of water. An …

Two firefighters from the Three Rivers department have been promoted. Travis McGahan and Jeff Bloomfield were recognized during a pinning ceremony at last week’s city commission meeting. McGahan has risen to the status of full-time firefighter, while Bloomfield was promoted to deputy chief. McGahan lives in Three Rivers while Bloomfield is a Marcellus resident. Bloomfield, who was promoted from the …

A motions hearing for perjury suspect Raymond McCann II took place Thursday before St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Prosecutors said McCann made five false statements during hours of sworn testimony related to the November 2007 night when 11-year-old Jodi Parrack was found dead in a Constantine Township cemetery. McCann’s attorney, James Mequio of Portage, argued that the …

State Rep. Matt Lori last week voted on a bipartisan plan to fund road and bridge repair and maintenance by asking voters to approve a one-cent increase to the state sales tax. Lori said he is happy the House and Senate reached a consensus on a long-term, sustainable plan to maintain and repair the state’s deteriorating roads and bridges. If …

A Nottawa Township boy died Thursday after he was involved in an accident with an all-terrain vehicle Wednesday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Dakota Yoder was driving the four-wheeler around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on private property in the 26000 block of Marvin Road in Nottawa Township. Investigators said the ATV flipped and landed on top of the boy. …

Three people were arrested on drug-related offenses Wednesday following a transaction involving a controlled substance in the city of Three Rivers. A short time after the undercover purchase by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 600 block of North Lakeview Street in Sturgis, which lead to the discovery of …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Thursday morning at a location in the 200 block of Center Street in Sturgis. SCAN officials received information where trafficking of methamphetamine was likely occurring. After a several-month investigation, officers obtained a search warrant. Once inside, officers found methamphetamine and marijuana. Two adults were arrested and taken …

A tired Michigan Legislature had to meet all night and into the morning, until it gave approval to a proposal asking voters to increase the state sales tax by a penny to pay for better roads.  Under the package, most of the revenue would come from a one percent increase in the Michigan sales tax. Other revenue would come from …