Government

The Day Reporting Center was announced as the recipient of the 2013 Liberty Bell Award, an honor bestowed annually since 1985 by the St. Joseph County Bar Association. Its program director, Anthony Callaway, and the agency’s five-member staff will be recognized during a ceremony at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph County Courthouse. The Liberty Bell Award is presented …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said his deputies handled a two-car, personal-injury crash on Calvin Center Road, near Chain Lake Street in Calvin Township over the weekend. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. Saturday, when a vehicle driven by 57-year-old Wayne Barber Jr., of Cassopolis, was traveling north on Calvin Center Road and a southbound vehicle driven by 52-year-old …

A White Pigeon man was killed in a one-car crash late Saturday afternoon on Blue School Road near Dickinson Road in Constantine Township. The victim was identified as 74-year-old Richard Carter. The incident occurred when his car left the roadway and rolled over. The vehicle was a convertible that had its top off at the time of the accident. Carter …

A trio of men who fled from police in Three Rivers earlier this week were arraigned in district court Wednesday. William Powell, 23, Antonio Hearn, 20, and Charles Hearn, 21, face a variety of charges following the Monday night incident in which one of the men held his 6-month-old son while fleeing from police. All three men, originally from Ohio, …

A high water level at Colon Township’s Sturgeon Lake has prompted the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to close its public access. In addition, the sheriff’s department is enforcing a no-wake policy throughout the lake. The no-wake order will remain in place until further notice.

The Centreville Village Council is short a member after council president Eric Weis resigned Monday. Weis was vague about his reasons for stepping down, noting only that family considerations, time commitment to the job and public criticism of the council’s actions were factors contributing to his departure. With Weis’ resignation, Jeff Johnson will serve the role of president, as he …

Investigators from the Three Rivers Police Department are studying surveillance images of an armed robbery Tuesday in hopes of identifying the lone suspect. The incident occurred shortly after 10 p.m. at the BP gas station on West Michigan Avenue. A photo of the suspect shows him to be a 6-foot-tall black male with a heavy build. He was armed with …

An election of officers resulted in no change on the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County board. During the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday, it was agreed that Barb Parker will remain chairperson, Robin Baker as vice-chair, Ronnie Atkins as secretary and Gaylene Adams serving in the capacity of citizen-at-large. In a separate matter, the board …

State Rep. Matt Lori voted in favor of a budget plan supported by both Republicans and an Independent lawmaker that cuts government waste and prioritizes funding for public safety, roads and schools. Lori, R-Constantine, joined a majority of his colleagues in voting Wednesday in favor of House Bills 4228 and 4328, the Fiscal Year 2014 House budget recommendation. Lori, who …

Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County executive director Liz O’Dell said the agency last week received a check for more than $200,000 from her counterpart in Oakland County. O’Dell told board members during their monthly meeting Tuesday that the $211,000 will help cover spin-down costs, which are incurred when the agency fronts deductible or co-pay …