Government

St. Joseph County officials are optimistic that State Sen. Kim LaSata’s effort might help the county secure “state of emergency” status. LaSata on Wednesday called for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in St. Joseph County in the aftermath of the recent storms that left significant damage throughout the area. In her message to Whitmer, LaSata said the …

Here’s a reminder that the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a “Legislative Luncheon” with Congressman Fred Upton. The event will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 30 at the chamber’s event center, 116 N. Main St. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Price includes lunch. RSVP to the chamber by phoning 278-8193.

Caleb Wing of Sturgis will serve a minimum of 19 months in prison after entering guilty pleas in three separate felony cases. The sentence was imposed recently in Branch County Circuit Court. Judge Bill O’Grady sentenced 28-year-old Wing to 16-24 months for resisting arrest when stopped outside Coldwater in June 2020 for officers to serve a warrant for his arrest. Wing …

A Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department deputy who grew up and lived in Three Rivers died in the line of duty over the weekend. Ryan Proxmire was shot by a suspect Saturday night following a pursuit that ended in Kalamazoo County’s Climax Township. Investigators said Proxmire was shot as he was pursuing a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Vicksburg resident Kyle Goidosik. …

A 43-year-old Sturgis man is in serious condition after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a truck last week in Sherman Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Banker Street Road and Nottawa Road. A pickup driven by a 20-year-old Sturgis man was eastbound on Banker when it …

After a one-year hiatus, the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging last week resumed a popular, annual event. The COA picnic took place Wednesday at Covered Bridge Farm Park. It was the first major outing for local senior citizens under the COA auspices since the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdown. Alex Kelley, COA life enrichment coordinator, said about 140 people …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a camper trailer in White Pigeon Township. The camper was stolen at some point over a 24-hour period from 5:30 p.m. Friday in the 17000 block of Indian Prairie Road. The camper was a single-axle 2022 Wolf Pup, white, black and blue in color. The suspect vehicle was a white Chevy …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a hit-and-run collision involving a pickup and Mitsubishi passenger car Tuesday in Calhoun County’s Athens Township. Troopers said the incident occurred shortly after 10:30 p.m. on M-66, near 3 1/2 Mile Road. Both vehicles were travelling northbound when the driver of the car aggressively braked, causing the pickup to rear-end the passenger car, authorities …

Michigan’s weekly number of people getting an initial COVID-19 shot rose for the third straight week after having consistently dropped for two months. The increase coincided with the spread of the delta variant — the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet — and a $5 million state sweepstakes designed to incentivize vaccinations. There were about 41,000 first-dose immunizations last week, the most since …

Park Township voters Tuesday approved a half-mill proposal for road-related projects. The four-year millage was supported, 186 to 132, according to township supervisor Ed English. Township officials said the request is expected to generate more than $72,000 annually through 2024. English said Marcellus Road, Lang Road and a portion of Hutchinson Road will likely be the first routes to receive …