Government

Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11 p.m. Saturday to Brownsville Street, near M-62, in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators said 42-year-old Marcellus resident Gila Wigton was traveling east on Brownsville Street when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a vehicle stopped in the opposite lane. The second vehicle was driven by 23-year-old …

A 49-year-old man faces drug-related charges following an investigation involving authorities from Michigan and Indiana. Southwest Enforcement Team detectives, along with the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Team detectives, worked May 21 to focus on a methamphetamine trafficker operating in southern Cass County and northern Elkhart County. Indiana officials conducted a traffic stop of the suspect. Authorities located half …

A 28-year-old woman from Buchanan was injured in a one-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted shortly after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to a personal-injury crash on Marcellus Highway. Investigators said Ashley Smith was driving east on Marcellus Highway when she attempted to steer around a fallen tree in the roadway. Smith …

There were fewer traffic crashes and alcohol-related arrests in St. Joseph County last year compared to 2022. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman provided a wealth of data to St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners during their monthly meeting Tuesday. Bingaman was in attendance to give the sheriff’s department’s 2023 annual report. According to information provided by Bingaman, there were 611 crashes in …

A thorny subject related to an alleged conflict of interest was revisited by St. Joseph County commissioners during their executive committee meeting May 14. The issue started in April, when county commissioners voted 4-3 to remove Dennis Allen from the board’s law enforcement committee. Commissioners voting for removal agreed Allen is in a position of conflict as a candidate for …

Three Rivers Police officers arrested a man on drug-related charges after he was found to also be in possession of a stolen vehicle. According to deputy chief Sam Smallcombe, officers were alerted shortly after 9:30 p.m. Monday to a stolen vehicle that had passed by an Automated License Plate Reader. The vehicle, reported stolen out of Elkhart County, was subsequently …

Areas of St. Joseph and Branch counties, and elsewhere in Southwest Michigan, are recovering from damage caused by a fierce storm that tore through the area late Tuesday afternoon. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman reported power outages and widespread damage, including exceptionally heavy destruction in and around portions of Nottawa, Colon, and Leonidas townships in St. Joseph County. A pole barn adjacent …

A Three Rivers man died over the weekend as the result of a stabbing incident. Police Chief Scott Boling issued a media release Monday. He stated that the incident occurred shortly before midnight Sunday in the 300 block of Fourth Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located a 61-year-old man with stab wounds. He was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital, where he …

A Three Rivers man was injured in a personal-injury crash over the weekend in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were dispatched shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday to an area near the intersection of U.S. 12 and Robbins Lake Road. Investigators said 36-year-old Joshua Leszczewski was negotiating a curve when his vehicle crossed the center line. His …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed with the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce to present a St. Joseph County Political Forum. The two-night event will feature candidates for a number of local races. The first, which will start at 5 p.m. May 29th, will showcase the two contestants for drain commissioner followed by candidates for the five-person …