Government

A ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at 4 o’clock this afternoon for the Children’s Trauma Assessment Group of St. Joseph County. Located next to the county’s United Way headquarters in Centreville, the CTAG provides a 24-hour, comfortable environment where children can talk to law-enforcement officials in conducting sensitive cases. The only area location available for such an assessment is at Western …

A father and son were arrested at a Florence Township residence last week on a charge of felony possession of stolen property. State police said the incident dates to September, when a four-wheel ATV was stolen from a residence in the 17000 block of Banker Street in Florence Township. On Oct. 20, the victim and a friend posed as prospective …

St. Joseph County Clerk and Register of Deeds Pattie Bender has announced the Register of Deeds department will go-live with eRecording starting next week. Beginning Monday, the department will offer the additional avenue for recording documents, as the department takes the next step in the advancement of technology, Bender said. She noted that the department will continue to have the …

The city of Three Rivers has been awarded a Housing Resource Fund grant to rehabilitate downtown apartments, according to State Rep. Matt Lori. The Constantine-area resident said the $379,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will assist downtown property owners with the renovation of upstairs spaces that have been vacant for many years. The grant …

Two people were hospitalized following a two-vehicle accident last week in Constantine Township. State police said Three Rivers resident Esther Bowman was driving west on Featherstone Road shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday, when she failed to stop at Lutz Road. Bowman’s vehicle struck a trailer loaded with RV trailer frames. The trailer was hitched to a northbound Ford truck driven …

The September unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 5.2 percent September unemployment rate was more than August’s 5.1 percent. September’s unemployment rate, however, was a full 2 percent less than the same …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit last week performed parole/probation-compliance checks on residences in conjunction with parole agents with the Michigan Department of Corrections. As part of Operation Night Hawk investigators from SCAN and agents from the DOC on Thursday checked six separate residences. Four individuals were arrested, with charges ranging from outstanding warrants, parole violations and …

A 27-year-old man was arrested this week on a felony warrant from Elkhart County. According to authorities, a White Pigeon Police K-9 unit on Monday stopped a driver on a 4-wheeler in the 400 block of Elkhart Street. Police said a check on the subject revealed a warrant for delivery and manufacturing methamphetamines. The suspect was found to be in …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week renewed a three-year contract for indigent-defense services. County administrator Pat Yoder said a pool of nine area attorneys were accepted to represent defendants who cannot afford legal services during their judicial process. The agreement, between the county and the Michigan Municipal Corporation, comes with a cost averaging about $480,000 each year …

Sturgis police said a 45-year-old man was arrested this week for attempted breaking and entering into a residence, possession of burglary tools, malicious destruction of property, and resisting and obstructing police. The incident happened just after 1:25 a.m. Wednesday, as officers were dispatched to the 800 block of East Chicago Road for a suspected breaking and entering. The suspect fled …