Government

Police say a semi-truck hauling 41,000 pounds of meat has crashed on a southwestern Michigan exit ramp.  The crash happened early Wednesday on the ramp from southbound U.S. 131 to Interstate 94 in the Portage area.  Portage police say the driver had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.  The truck partially blocked the interchange as crews cleaned …

Three Rivers police early Monday arrested three people suspected of being involved in larceny and breaking-and-entering incidents. According to police, a caller to central dispatch indicated subjects were breaking into vehicles parked in the area of East Michigan Avenue and Water Street around 3 a.m. With the help of the department’s canine unit, officers discovered someone had broken into Riverside …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has named Christopher Bolt as the agency’s chief executive officer, engineer and manager. Bolt will hold the same positions with the Cass County Road Commission, a dual-role arrangement that started with his predecessor, Louis Csokasy. Bolt’s appointment was announced last week. He has been serving in the capacity on an interim basis since July, …

State Rep. Matt Lori this week was awarded the “Champion of Hope” award by the Michigan Association of Substance Abuse Coordinating Agencies. The award recognizes Lori’s extraordinary leadership in bringing substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery issues to the attention of legislatures. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, said he is committed to working as a member of the House to not …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Wednesday to investigate the break-in to and vandalism of a pole barn in Burr Oak Township. According to a department media release, the building – located in the 33000 block of Deer Park Road – was entered. Windows were damaged by BBs from a pellet gun and thrown rocks, investigators said, further …

Police have released the identity of the man who died following an explosion at his home on Monday. 30-year-old David Loach died at Bronson Methodist Hospital, after he was severely injured in his garage at 109 South Andrews Street. Three Rivers Police say the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction during the production of methamphetamine. Law-enforcement is continuing their …

Discussions regarding budget requests from various county departments started Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners staged the first of what could be a number of workshops related to the county’s 2013 fiscal-year budget. The three-hour special session featured a thorough review of requests from various departments. Though no concrete decisions were made, recommendations were tentatively …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the larceny of an irrigation traveler from a field in Leonidas Township. According to a department news release, the Heinzman traveler and 660 feet of blue hose were stolen from a field on Blossom Road, west of Shannon Road. The incident occurred last week, sometime between Monday and Friday.

A Sturgis resident in his mid-20s was arrested after he was found operating a methamphetamine lab out of his vehicle earlier this week. According to the Sturgis Police Department, the man was identified as a possible suspect in a retail-theft incident around 7 p.m. Tuesday at a business in the 800 block of South Centerville Road. During a follow-up investigation, …

Bridge-repair work at two different locations in Three Rivers started Wednesday and will conclude at the end of October. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, there will be single-lane closures on Michigan Avenue between Spring Street and M-86 through Oct. 31. Meanwhile, MDOT said over the same time period there will be single-lane closures on U.S. 131 between West …