Government

A Three Rivers man was charged with a number of motor-vehicle violations following an incident last weekend in Flowerfield Township. State police said a trooper was dispatched to the area of Null and Pulver roads around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in response to a civil complaint. While the trooper was on the scene, a 42-year-old man who was involved in the …

Authorities say a 50-year-old man has been injured in an explosion while trying to make fireworks at his home in southwestern Michigan. Officers were called around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday to the home in Portage. Public safety Lt. John Blue says a suspected methamphetamine lab also was found at the scene, but that’s being investigated separately. Battalion Chief Rick Palmer says …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has signed a contract with a Sturgis-area man to serve as the grounds attendant at Cade Lake County Park. During action earlier this month, the commission and Burr Oak Township resident Richard Dell settled an agreement leading to Dell’s role for the summer and early fall months at the Fawn River Township park. …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch is asking for help to reduce an increasing number of nuisance 911 calls placed by cell phones stored in pockets, purses and bags. These 911 pocket dials calls usually result from an object depressing a key on the cell phone’s keyboard that is programmed to dial 911 in case of emergencies. Most open-face phones have …

A White Pigeon woman was injured in a two-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff’s deputies said a car driven by Becky Worth, 48, was heading west on U.S. 12 around 5:30 a.m. June 18 when an approaching car driven by 21-year-old Dwight Ottman of Cassopolis crossed the center line. The vehicles struck in the westbound lane, …

A Sturgis man suffered minor injuries last weekend after the motorcycle he was driving struck a deer in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s officials said Samuel Brackob, 25, was heading north on Balk Road Saturday when a deer entered the roadway near Mintdale Road. Brackob’s motorcycle struck the deer, causing the cycle to veer off the road and come to rest in …

Recapping last week’s fire at the Bentwater Apartments, Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson has issued a press release detailing the damage. The fire, caused by a lightning strike Wednesday afternoon, damaged a total of five of the building’s 16 apartment units. Tomlinson said the most severely compromised apartment sustained about 70 percent damage. Two of the other four were …

Centreville’s village president could face charges after his son and son’s girlfriend were arrested earlier this month. Evidence from a six-week investigation indicates village president Jeff Johnson knew about warrants and drug involvement specific to his son, Jeffrey Charles Johnson, and his son’s girlfriend, Karissa Baltz. The couple was living in the village president’s home. Centreville Police Chief Luke Delcourt …

Two men were treated for injuries after they were involved in a two-vehicle accident last week in White Pigeon Township. State police said William Sherratt, 73, of Colon, was stopped at the railroad crossing on U.S. 131 near Indian Prairie Road, when his vehicle was rear-ended by a car driven by Robert Patterson, 29, of Three Rivers. The incident occurred …

The Three Rivers Walmart was temporarily closed, following a fire that started early Monday. According to Three Rivers fire officials and Walmart representatives, the incident started at a clearance rack in the hardware department, where a woman appears to have started the fire intentionally. Surveillance video shows the woman, who had straight, blond hair, deliberately set fire to notebook paper …