Government

A high-profile St. Joseph County agency is closer to becoming part of an eight-county region following action its board members took Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board authorized director Liz O’Dell to proceed with a state-mandated plan to move from a four-county district to the eight-county region. The eight-county Region 4 takes effect …

A hit-and-run incident involving a parked vehicle is being investigated by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. A department-issued media release indicated a Chrysler van was struck between 8 and 10 a.m. Friday in the Kendall Electric parking lot.

            A 2000 Dodge 3500 dual-wheel pickup truck was stolen earlier this month from a residence in the 12000 block of Riverside Drive, in White Pigeon Township.             The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department reports the vehicle had four flat tires and had remained in place at least five years. The vehicle is inoperable and has a 100-gallon fuel tank, …

State Rep. Matt Lori was recently honored with a Health Advocacy Award from the Cassopolis Family Clinic Network. Lori was recognized for his support of the clinic’s mission to provide necessary, compassionate health care to the people of Cass County. Cassopolis Family Clinic Network has identified 11,700 low-income residents in Cass County and the immediate service area who are not …

A $6,0000 reward is being offered for information in the shooting death of a 7-year-old northern Indiana girl fatally shot when three men tried to break into her house.  WSBT-TV reports the family of Kristyana Jackson of Elkhart and community donors raised the reward money. The girl died in August, two days after being shot when she and her mother …

A candidate forum featuring contestants for two judicial positions in St. Joseph County is scheduled to take place this evening. Glen Oaks Community College will host the forum at 6 p.m. at the college’s Dresser Center. Judicial candidates for Probate and Circuit courts will be the focus of the event. In addition, candidates for Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of …

Two White Pigeon residents were treated for injuries they suffered after the motorcycle they were riding was hit by a deer about 5 p.m. Thursday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the 46-year-old driver, Scott Crone was south on Covered Bridge Road when the deer ran into his motorcycle near South River Road. The man and his 47-year-old passenger, Joni Crone were …

Officials from the Three Rivers Police Department have confirmed their investigation into a case of embezzlement from the Three Rivers Little League. The case centers on the former director of the 300-player league and an amount of money close to $20,000 that may have been improperly taken. Police became involved in the issue after a former board member and sponsor …

Two Sturgis men were arrested Tuesday and charged with methamphetamine-related offenses. Following up on a tip, members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit made the arrests at an apartment unit at a residence at 207 N. Prospect St. Information regarding the ages and identities of the men arrested was not referenced in a sheriff’s department news release. Investigators …

Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. reports said deputies handled a double-fatal traffic crash on Chapel Hill Street, just east of Baldwin Prarie Road at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday in Porter Township. Ross Gambill, 19 from Osceola, Ind., said that he and two friends were traveling east on Chapel Hill Street at a high rate of speed when the driver lost …