Government

A tentative trial date for the man accused of killing a Sturgis accountant has been scheduled for June 24. The date for suspect Andy Brown was set during a status conference Monday by St. Joseph County 45th Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Pre-trial motions are scheduled for May 16. Brown, of Portage, is charged with the 2013 murder of Sturgis …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has renewed its contract with Fabius Township for law-enforcement services. During Tuesday’s meeting, the commission agreed to the one-year contract. The measure, which has been in place more than 13 years, calls for the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to dedicate a car and deputy to patrol Fabius Township exclusively. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said …

A collection of trash in Constantine Township’s Mill Creek turned out to be a methamphetamine dump site. Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit were called Friday to Brick Chapel Road and spent several hours picking debris from the water. Sheriff’s department officials had received a tip about suspicious items found in the creek. Police determined several items …

The Sturgis City Commission has a vacancy to fill following a resignation announced last week. Mike Wilson has moved out of the city’s Third Precinct, making him ineligible to represent the area. The nine-member board is moving forward with plans to replace Wilson, who was on the commission for more than two years. Interested parties must submit an application to …

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley has signed a package of bills, including one authored by state Rep. Matt Lori, which remove the words “retarded” and “retardation” from current laws. Last week’s bill-signing, attended by lawmakers, Lansing school officials and Special Olympians, took place at Hill Vocational Center in Lansing. Lori, who serves as a member of the Michigan Mental Health and …

The city of Sturgis will move its municipal elections to even-numbered years, following a unanimous vote taken this week by community leaders. Starting Jan.1, the city will implement the even-year vote, as 2015 will not be an election year. Instead, the next vote to select city commissioners will be decided in 2016. Consequently, current commissioners whose terms would have expired …

A 22-year-old Cass County man was arrested Wednesday on drug-related charges following an investigation by members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team. According to a sheriff’s department media release, a residence in the 61000 block of South Main Street in the Newberg Township community of Jones was searched. The examination revealed manufacturing materials related to explosives, and the drugs …

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 …