Government

Police have identified the two motorists who killed each other in Ionia following what appears to be a road-rage induced shoot-out Wednesday night. According to the Ionia Department of Public Safety, 43-year old James Pullum and 56-year old Robert Taylor, both of Ionia, were pronounced dead at Sparrow Ionia Hospital soon after the gunfire. The incident happened just before 7 …

St. Joseph County government will benefit from fiber-optic connectivity, following action taken by the county’s board of commissioners Tuesday. The county’s deal with Ann Arbor-based Merit Network Inc. covers a five-year period and provides service at 20 mega bites per second. The agreement means the county courthouse and courts buildings will connect to Merit’s network and have faster service than …

Officials from the Constantine Area Foundation have announced they are accepting grant proposals from qualifying entities for the foundation’s fall 2013 grant period. Eligible recipients include 501(C)(3) organizations, public schools and governmental entities. The foundation encourages potential recipients to focus on improving working and living conditions in the village; youth and recreation opportunities; public, educational, charitable or charitable purposes; and …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved the appointment of Janell Hart of Three Rivers and Karen Beverly of Burr Oak, to the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board of St. Joseph County. The action was taken during Tuesday’s commission meeting and followed an interview with several prospective candidates. The board is now at full strength …

Four people were injured in a 2-car crash late Wednesday afternoon on M-40, south of Bair Lake Street. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, 50-year-old Kathy Coleman of Dowagiac was northbound on M-40, when she turned west onto Bair Lake Street in front of a car driven by Carla Malone, age 46, of Three Rivers. Two passengers in the …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to approve payment to finance director Joni Smith and human resources director Elishia Arver for their work earlier this year as fill-in county administrators. Both employees were paid $10,000 for providing professional services and responsibilities, as they worked together in the role of county administrator between the mid-January departure of …

A large quantity of tools and other items were stolen from a barn earlier last week in Constantine Township. Investigators with the Michigan State Police said the theft occurred either Sept. 13 or 14 in the 14000 block of Drummond Road. Hand tools, a lawn tractor, a chainsaw and a leaf blower were among the items taken. A department media …

The St. Joseph County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is offering the chance to win one of three weather radios, awarded daily at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. Registration slips are available at the Emergency Management/Homeland Security display near the southwest corner of the racetrack. Officials from the agency said three tickets will be drawn daily at …

Authorities say a 58-year-old man is charged in the death of his 56-year-old ex-wife, whose body was found inside her southwestern Michigan apartment. Kalamazoo County’s Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein says the open murder charge was authorized Saturday against Clinton Edward Smith. He was jailed and scheduled for arraignment by video on Monday afternoon. The prosecutor’s office said Monday morning …

Two people were arrested Friday at a Colon Township residence after police discovered the production of methamphetamine. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit responded to a residence in the 28000 block of Bonham Road in response to a tip regarding suspected drug activity. SCAN unit members found an active, one-pot meth lab and a second inactive lab inside the …