Government

A log splitter was reported stolen from a Lockport Township pole barn. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the TSC large-log splitter was stolen between Nov. 9 and 16 from a location in the 16000 block of Fairchild Road. The splitter is described as having a silver frame, a 12-horsepower engine and a 32-ton cylinder on an axle with …

Sheriff Brad Balk said deputies were summoned to a home-invasion incident at 3:22 a.m. Saturday in White Pigeon Township. According to a sheriff’s department media release, the incident took place in the 68000 block of Sevison Road. A white male wearing a green coat, jeans and stocking cap had broken a glass door to gain entry into the residence. He …

A public hearing for a special-use request sought by a church hoping to locate downtown tops today’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. The request, sought by Verse By Verse church, was recommended by the city’s planning commission last week and will now be fielded by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners for final approval. Also up for deliberation this evening is …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will decide today whether to reconsider a motion made earlier this month regarding development of a proposed senior center in Sturgis. Also before commissioners is a public hearing related to the county’s proposed 2013 fiscal year budget. The $28.8 million proposed budget is more than $785,000 less than the budget approved for the …

“Operation Verify,” a three-week campaign recently conducted by the Michigan State Police and local agencies, confirmed 89 percent of the county’s sex offenders are in compliance with proper registration of their residence. According to a MSP media release, 328 of the county’s 367 registered sex offenders who are not homeless or incarcerated have been checked and verified as accurate. Another …

A number of city officials and Sturgis residents attended an open house last week to honor outgoing deputy fire chief Scott Hopkins. A 40-year veteran of the department, Hopkins begins working this week in Centreville as the county’s emergency services coordinator. Hopkins will work under Jim Barnes, who is retiring from the position next month. As coordinator of emergency services, …

125 people were left homeless early Monday morning following a fire overnight at a Kalamazoo apartment building. The blaze broke out just before 11:30 Sunday night at the seven-story Northwind Hilltop Apartments. Fire officials say a third floor apartment was fully engulfed in flames when the first units arrived on the scene. The fire then spread to the apartment above …

Quick response by the Fabius-Park Township and Three Rivers fire departments limited the extent of fire-related damage at a residence in Fabius Township early Wednesday. The departments were summoned to the 56000 block of Seven Hills Road around 2 a.m. to a report of a blaze started in the mantel of a fireplace. The mantel was cut into sections by …

The Three Rivers City Commission has set a Nov. 30 deadline to accept citizen-interest forms for anyone interested in serving an 11-month term to the commission. Though the vacancy is in the city’s First District, the position is available at-large. The seat was vacated last week after Judith Gilchrist announced her resignation due to her impending move out of state. …

The murder trial for a man believed to have killed a southwest Michigan couple more than two and a half years ago has been put on hold.  A Cass County judge has agreed to a defense request that 28-year old Keith Lintz undergo an exam to determine if he’s mentally competent to stand trial. Defense Attorney Greg Feldman says Lintz …