Government

The St. Joseph County MSU Extension is inviting elected officials and area farmers to an overnight agriculture and water tour of Central Wisconsin. Jon Zirkle, MSU Extension program director, told members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday the tour offers stops at several locations to view vegetable, field crop and cranberry farms in an irrigated, sandy part …

A court has removed a 4-year-old girl from the custody of a mother who left her home alone with three younger siblings who died when a fire swept through their low-income apartment in Kalamazoo. Police say that 3-year-old twins Tevin and Ty’nitha Williams and their 1-year-old sister Tyonna Henderson were killed in Monday’s fire. The Michigan Department of Human Services …

The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department earlier this week investigated an attempted breaking and entering at a residence in the 23000 block of Airline Road in Sturgis Township. Investigators said the incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8:10 a.m. Wednesday. A rear door was damaged in the attempt.

St. Joseph County is expected to share an equalization director with Cass County. What will likely be the third position shared by the neighboring counties is expected to be approved Thursday by the Cass County Board of Commissioners. The five-member St. Joseph County Board unanimously endorsed the proposal Tuesday. Cass County administrator Louis Csokasy told St. Joseph County leaders the …

A 59-year-old Three Rivers man was charged with operating while intoxicated after he was involved in a one-vehicle accident Monday in Fabius Township. The man, whose name was not released pending arraignment, sustained minor injuries after his Jeep rolled over at 1 p.m. on Coon Hollow Road, between East Clear Lake and Stoldt roads. There were no passengers in the …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a plan to issue paychecks to county employees by direct deposit or through a payroll debit card only The measure will be implemented with the April 12 payday for the two-week pay period ending April 8. Finance director Joni Smith said no longer hand-delivering checks to employees will save staff in …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell was recognized as one of three recipients of an award bestowed by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Caswell, whose jurisdiction includes St. Joseph County, received the agency’s Silver Plow award last week in Lansing. The recognition is reserved for state lawmakers whose commitment to agriculture in 2012 ensures the ongoing success of the farming industry. The Silver …

Three children died after they were trapped in an upstairs apartment when a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Kalamazoo Monday afternoon.  Dispatchers say that the fire was fully involved when Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to the Interfaith Apartments on the city’s north side.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reports 3-year-old twins Tevin and Tinya Williams and …

A 38-year-old St. Joseph County man was sentenced to serve up to 70 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct. Prosecutor John McDonough said charges against Mendon Township resident David Mathews involved two teenage girls, one of them a family member. Mathews was sentenced Friday in 45th Circuit Court in Centreville. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree …

A gaming system, DVD movies and other items were stolen from a residence during a break-in reported last week in Sturgis Township. State police investigators said no one was home at a residence in the 69000 block of South Nottawa Road when it was burglarized between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 6 p.m. Wednesday. Details about how access was gained into …