Government

Deputies from the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department investigated an accidental shooting last week in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, the incident took place around 4 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in the 28000 block of Wing Road. A 56-year-old man told investigators he was working on a tractor, when a loaded, 22-caliber rifle fell off one …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Thursday at a residence in the 800 block of 4th Street in Three Rivers. SCAN officers received information about alleged trafficking of synthetic marijuana. After further investigation, officers obtained a search warrant. Once inside, officers found synthetic marijuana, marijuana and another controlled substance. Four adults were arrested …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department will pursue renewal of a grant that has allowed it to professionalize traffic-crash reconstruction. With unanimous support of the county board of commissioners Monday, the Crash Accident Reconstruction Team grant request will be pursued. If approved the $4,300 in grant money would allow the sheriff’s office to purchase a software enhancement and continue its …

The Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program has announced the addition of communications and events intern Rebecca Kramb. A 2008 graduate of Three Rivers High School, Kramb attended Glen Oaks and recently earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, where she majored in creative writing and minored in communications. Three Rivers DDA/Main Street Executive Director Brian Persky said Kramb has …

Kalamazoo County Administrator Peter Battani has resigned. The resignation was presented to the County Board at Wednesday night’s meeting and was unanimously accepted. Battani cited fatigue as the reason for his departure. He will receive six months pay as severance and will be eligible for health insurance through the county.  (MRN)

St. Joseph County’s human resources manager announced Monday she is resigning to take another job. Elishia Arver, who also serves as deputy county administrator, has accepted a position with General Products as corporate human resources manager at its Angola, Ind., plant. Arver, 36, disclosed her intentions Monday morning to county administrator Pat Yoder. The county earlier this year persuaded Arver …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team made two arrests earlier this week in Marcellus. According to a sheriff’s department media release, the team executed a search warrant in the 200 block of East Dibble Street. Once entry was made, detectives located a marijuana-grow operation on the lower level of the residence. In a room on the upper level, detectives located …

The state Legislature will remain firmly in Republican control for the next two years. The GOP has a 63 to 47 seat advantage in the House and retains its super majority in the Senate. Republicans will be selecting a new House Speaker in the coming weeks, with the first discussions on that set for Thursday in Lansing. State Representatives Al Pscholka of …

Aaron Miller will potentially be the youngest member of Michigan’s House of Representatives, as the Sherman Township Republican captured the 59th District seat in Tuesday’s general election. Miller, 27, was elected to a two-year term after beating Democrat Mike Moroz of Dowagiac. Earning more than 65 percent of the votes in St. Joseph County, Miller held a 2-to-1 margin over …

Incumbents on area school boards fared well in Tuesday’s general election. In Three Rivers, Pete Bennett was re-elected to a four-year term. In addition, leading vote-getter Diana DeGraff and Scott Karle  were victorious in the four-person race. They, too, will serve four-year terms. In White Pigeon, top vote-getter Dan Cropsey and fellow incumbent Joe Taylor won in their bid for …