Government

The pilot of a single-engine, ultra-light plane escaped serious injury Wednesday evening when the plane crashed into a wooded area near Hov Aire Drive in Three Rivers. The pilot, 71-year-old Peter Wilkins of Kalamazoo, was attempting to land at Three Rivers Airport when he reported he lost lift and crashed. The heavy woods appeared to cushion his landing, police said. …

Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Wednesday for narcotics at a location in the 63000 block of U.S. 131 in Constantine Township. Investigators located indoor and outdoor marijuana grows containing numerous plants, several ounces of finished product and evidence of methamphetamine use, according to authorities. A female suspect was located inside the residence …

Narcotics Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Tuesday in Lockport Township for methamphetamine. Investigators utilized the St. Joseph County Special Response Team to execute the warrant in the 57000 block of Patterson Lane. SCAN officers had received information about methamphetamine manufacturing occurring at a residence. Additional investigation led to the culmination of a …

A 54-year-old Three Rivers woman was treated for injuries she suffered following a three-vehicle collision Tuesday in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Laura Blount, 52, of Three Rivers, was driving south on U.S. 131 when she disobeyed a traffic signal at Broadway Road. Her vehicle subsequently struck a westbound vehicle driven by Christine Maher, 53, of …

A candidate who said he was a longshot to win the four-man Republican race for 59th House district was victorious in Tuesday’s primary election. Aaron Miller, a high-school math teacher and Sherman Township resident, captured more than 42 percent of the votes cast in St. Joseph County and 38 percent overall in the two-county district. He will face Democrat Mike …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission can continue to count on the voter-approved 1 mill it has relied on the past 20 years, as it was renewed for a 10-year period Tuesday. A request for an additional two mills, however, met a different fate in the primary election. The request for additional mills was defeated by a 56 to 44 …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Allen Balog was voted to two more years of duty Tuesday. The incumbent candidate for the county’s District 1 post defeated challenger Del Martin, 647 votes to 340 tallies. Balog, 58, is an insurance salesman wrapping up his fourth year as a county commissioner. A Three Rivers resident, Balog said he was grateful to have the …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority will be able to maintain its current level of services, as voters Tuesday renewed its request for 0.33 mills. The one-third mill will be in place for four years and will generate approximately $630,000 annually to help support its financial standing. Unofficial results show the renewal request passed by a 3-to-2 margin.

Centreville and Sturgis school districts were successful Tuesday in renewing their respective operational millages. Centreville was asking for renewal of nearly 20.2 mills for a 10-year period. At stake was more than $720,000 annually. Meanwhile, Sturgis Public Schools was seeking renewal of 18 mills over a 20-year period. Its 18 mills generate about $2.5 million a year.

Voters in Leonidas and Nottawa townships agreed to renew millages for separate operations. Leonidas Township voters renewed 1.7 mills for a five-year period for fire and ambulance services. The millage generates more than $1.7 million annually to fund the emergency services. Meanwhile, Nottawa Township Library was seeking renewal of more than 1.6 mills. The millage will be in effect for …