Government

The case of a Burr Oak woman charged with murder and felony firearm has been bound over to circuit court. Thirty-four-year-old Maria Audrey-Louise Williams is accused in the shooting death of Dennis Brooks, 33. The incident occurred March 13 in Burr Oak Township. Judge Rob Pattison on Friday said sufficient evidence for the charge of open murder was presented, resulting …

District Court Judge Jeff Middleton has announced that Jim McNeil is the recipient of the 30th St. Joseph County Bar Association’s Liberty Bell award. McNeil has been a law-enforcement instructor at Glen Oaks Community College for 36 years. He will be retiring in May. Middleton said McNeil has has taught the Introduction to Law Enforcement class to hundreds of students, …

A breaking-and-entering incident in White Pigeon Township was investigated last week. Sheriff’s officials responded to the 69000 block of Kalamazoo Street, where chain saws, a leaf blower, generator and a number of other tools were taken. The victim told police the incident occurred before April 21.

Two incumbents will likely be returning to the Three Rivers City Commission later this year, while a third will be involved in a contested race. City clerk Melissa Bliss said an August runoff vote will not be necessary, meaning Second District Commissioner Alison Haigh and Fourth District representative Carolyn McNary will run unopposed in November’s general election. Incumbent Daryl Griffith, …

Longtime Sturgis resident Mark Dvorak was appointed to the Sturgis City Commission Wednesday. With a seat to the nine-member commission open as a result of Michael Wilson’s move from the city’s Third Precinct, Dvorak received four votes from the commission. Kimberly Wilson received two and Mark Ritter earned one endorsement. Dvorak will serve until the term expires in November 2016. …

The mother of homicide victim Jodi Parrack said anyone with knowledge of the incident should step forward and tell the truth. Jo Gilson, mother of 11-year-old Parrack, addressed the media Tuesday at the Constantine Police Department. The event was staged following last week’s arrest of Raymond McCann on a felony charge of perjury. A warrant for McCann’s arrest was issued …

Officers from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating an injury accident that occurred last week in Mendon Township. A motorcycle driven by Kathy Kline, 54, of Mendon, was southbound at 8:15 p.m. Friday on Silver Street, when she lost control north of Wakeman Road Kline’s motorcycle went off the left side of the roadway. The bike then flipped …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a property-damage complaint from Sturgis Township. According to a department media release, a pickup truck parked near a residence in the 25800 Block of U.S.12 was extensively damaged. The victim told investigators the incident occurred between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday. A potential suspect vehicle – a black Ford passenger car – …

An all-terrain vehicle was reported stolen earlier this month from a location in Fabius Township. State police investigators said the 2012 Polaris Ranger XP was stolen between April 9 and 12 from the 11000 block of Coon Hollow Road.

A former Constantine resident described as “a person of interest” in the Jodi Parrack murder case has been arrested on a charge of felony perjury. Investigators with the Michigan State Police said Raymond McCann, 46, was a reserve officer with the Constantine Police Department. He was arrested Friday and arraigned in district court over the weekend on the perjury charge, …