Government

Fishing equipment and a television were among the items taken from three residences in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Sunday to the 67000 block of Stubey Road in response to breaking-and-entering incident. It was eventually discovered that three residences in all were broken into. The incidents occurred between March 1 and Sunday. Items taken include …

Police have now arrested two men in the shooting death of a Kalamazoo woman last year. 31-year old James Shaver was arraigned this week on multiple charges including open murder, assault with intent to murder and Shaver’s accused of shooting 35-year old Tawana Henderson on May 21, 2013 in the area of Florence Street and Cobb Street in Kalamazoo. She …

Authorities say antique fly fishing rods are among the items missing following three home break-ins in a rural area of southwestern Michigan. Sheriff’s deputies responded this week in St. Joseph County’s Sherman Township following one break-in. During their investigation they learned of two other area break-ins this month. The department says antique fly fishing rods were reported missing along with …

Four college students were charged with drug-related offenses following a traffic stop Monday night in Constantine Township. According to Michigan State Police, the vehicle was stopped around 9:30 p.m. on U.S. 131 near North River Road for speeding. Its driver, a 19-year-old from Wolcottville, told officers they were returning from Kalamazoo after purchasing marijuana. The marijuana was located and the …

A Fabius Township homeowner scared off two potential suspects in an attempted breaking-and-entering incident Thursday afternoon. State police said the owner of a residence in the 59000 block of Ferguson Road heard someone trying to open the rear sliding door to her residence. Upon investigating the situation, the woman noticed two men attempting to enter the residence. She confronted the …

A Kalamazoo County man who stole nearly 169-thousand dollars from his employer will spend just one day in jail. Prosecutors say Nickolas Lubrick of Schoolcraft almost put Okun Brothers Shoes out of business due in part to his gambling addiction. The 32-year old Lubrick pleaded guilty to a felony embezzlement charge and he’ll have to pay back all the money …

A preliminary examination for a Burr Oak woman charged with murder is set for 9 a. m. April 25 in St. Joseph County District Court. Maria Audrey-Louise Williams, 34, is a suspect in the shooting death of 33-year-old Dennis Brooks. Brooks was fatally shot March 13 on Townline Road in Colon Township. Authorities said that after shooting Brooks, Williams left …

Congressman Fred Upton has announced that Schoolcraft resident Thomas Hurst has been accepted to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo. Upton recommended Hurst for selection to the service academy and has personally congratulated him on the appointment. Hurst is the son of Edward and JoAnn Hurst. Hurst’s older sister, Chloe, is also attending the Air Force …

The January unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.9 percent January unemployment rate was equal to December’s figure. January’s unemployment rate was 1.7 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was …

Upgrades in the booking and intercom systems at the county jail were approved last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The five-member board authorized a $178,000 quote from Midstate Jail Security, one of three bidders for the project. Sheriff’s department officials said the current intercom/speaker system is outdated and spare parts are too difficult – and in …