Government

A White Pigeon man will spend at least two years in prison for his role in setting fire to a residence in White Pigeon Township last year. Terry Streib, 74, was sentenced earlier this month by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman for setting fire last July to a house on Aldrich Lake Road. During court proceedings, Streib indicated he started …

Staff and administrators at the St. Joseph County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will take 23 collective furlough days to help improve the agency’s financial standing. During Tuesday’s monthly CMHSAS Board meeting, executive director Liz O’Dell said management will be taking seven unpaid days off, while staff members will take a total of six. O’Dell will take 10 …

Police are seeking criminal charges against the mother of three children who died after they were killed in a fire at an apartment complex in Kalamazoo last month. Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein says the request for three counts of second-degree child abuse against 26-year old Jonetta Woods is being reviewed. The charge carries up to 10 years …

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased for the second consecutive month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 8.3 percent January unemployment rate was seven-tenths percent of an increase from December. Still, the January 2013 rate was 1.8 percent less than the same month one year earlier. The …

A hit-and-run crash shortly before 5 a.m. Monday in Sturgis Township is being investigated by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Department officials said a midsize car of unknown make, model and color was westbound on U.S. 12, west of Shimmel Road, and side-swiped the victim’s vehicle. The suspect vehicle, which continued west on U.S.12, may have damage to the …

A 23-year-old Elkhart man was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo after he was injured in a one-vehicle crash Sunday in Constantine Township. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Bradley Owen was driving on North River Road when he drove off the roadway near Maple Road and his truck ran into a tree. Owen had to …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission have authorized an upgrade of residential water meters. City officials estimate more than 1,300 meters will be upgraded in order to make it easier to read water meters and quickly identify leaks. Between installation and materials, the measure will cost just under $330,000. The city has been budgeting for …

White Pigeon municipal officials have sold the former village office and adjacent parking lot. The deal was announced last week after the village had previously announced it was accepting bids for the building and property. Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene submitted a $14,000 bid for the parcel, at 118 S. Kalamazoo St. The church, which operates in a building just …

A 90-year-old White Pigeon man was issued a citation last week after he drove into a moving, horse-drawn buggy in White Pigeon Township. State police investigators said the man was driving east on Fawn River Road when he ran into the back of the buggy near the intersection of Aldrich Lake Road at 9:45 a.m. Friday. The 35-year-old driver of …

Only minor injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident last week in Sturgis Township. A media release from the Michigan State Police stated 27-year-old Amanda Horning, of Sturgis, turned left in front of a westbound car on U.S. 12. The incident, which took place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, occurred in front of the Hillcrest Lounge. The 43-year-old driver of the …