Government

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-car collision at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Lockport Township. According to a department media release, one of two cars going in opposite directions on M-60 near Mahnke Road crossed the center line and collided with the other vehicle. One of the vehicles rolled several times and the driver had to be …

County sheriff’s deputies investigated a crash yesterday afternoon on Fawn River Road in Sturgis Township, when a car rear-ended a horse and buggy. The car was driven by 28-year-old Nicholas Conner of Sturgis. The driver of the buggy was Lavon Knepp, age 30, of Shipshewana. All three occupants of the buggy were ejected. A buggy passenger, 30-year-old Ester Knepp, sustained …

St. Joseph County District Judge Jeff Middleton has issued a statement regarding the anniversary of a grim case in Three Rivers. Middleton said Dec. 2 marks the 25-year anniversary of the homicide of Cathy Swartz. The case remains unsolved. Middleton recounted that Swartz was brutally murdered in her apartment at the Riverside Townhouses while her young daughter was in the …

St. Joseph County animal control director Tom Miller said the department saw a revenue increase from 2011 to 2012. In addition, Miller said fewer dogs were euthanized in 2012 compared to 2011. Miller addressed the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioner Tuesday, presenting to the five-member panel his annual report. The department euthanized 111 dogs last year, 77 fewer than …

A Florence Township official will have to look for an alternative source of financial help to address a crumbling roadway in his jurisdiction, as he was turned down for assistance by county officials Tuesday. For the second time in two months, Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor asked the commission for consideration to help replace Constantine Road from Dickinson north to …

A chimney fire is being cited as the source of a blaze that destroyed a house in Mendon Township last week. Investigators said the conclusion was made after a closer look into the situation and its origin. The fire, which was reported at 11:30 a.m. Friday, destroyed a residence in the 53500 block of Nottawa Road. One occupant inside the …

Authorities say an 83-year-old woman has died in a fire at her Kalamazoo-area home. MLive.com reports that Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas says she’s believed to be the owner of the house in Galesburg. Her name wasn’t immediately released. Charleston-Galesburg assistant fire Chief Joe Coleman says authorities got a call about 4:15 a.m. Monday and says two other departments helped …

Troopers from the White Pigeon state police detachment are investigating separate theft incidents reported earlier this month in Fabius and Mottville townships. In the first case, an 18-foot car-hauler trailer was stolen from a Fabius Township residence in the 14000 block of Gleason Road. The trailer was likely stolen between Oct. 30 and Nov. 1. Troopers were called last week …

Four Three Rivers residents were treated for injuries they suffered in a two-vehicle accident Saturday in Fabius Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Samantha Jo Combs attempted to turn left off U.S. 131 and onto North Main Street into the path of a vehicle driven northbound on U.S. 131 by 52-year-old Karen …

A restructuring plan was announced Wednesday by Glen Oaks Community College officials, who said a loss in student enrollment and a drop in property taxes were major reasons the moves were necessary. Glen Oaks President Gary Wheeler said the position of director of academic services will be cut. Meanwhile, another administrative position will be eliminated by combining the roles of …