Government

A 59-year-old woman was forced from her SUV late Wednesday night outside the Sturgis Walmart. Police said the woman told them a black man, in his late 20s or early 30s, dragged her from her vehicle as she was entering the gray 2004 Chevy Trailblazer. The vehicle was last seen heading north on South Centerville Road. The vehicle has a …

State Rep. Matt Lori announced this week that legislation he introduced, regarding a change to the legal blood-alcohol content for which boaters are considered legally drunk, has passed a vote by the State House Judiciary Committee. The two bills set the legal blood-alcohol content for watercraft operators from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. They also modify sentencing guidelines to make …

Members of the Tri-Township Fire Department welcomed the addition of its new truck Tuesday. Chief Max Kulpinski said the 2009 International was purchased by Fawn River, Sturgis and Sherman townships for $200,000. Another $15,000 was spent to detail, customize and letter the rig. Because the vehicle had been a lifelong demonstration truck, all of its 2,200 miles were recorded to …

  State Rep. Matt Lori issued a statement following Wednesday’s State of the State speech by Gov. Rock Snyder. Lori, whose jurisdiction includes St. Joseph County, said he was encouraged to hear Snyder put an emphasis on improving public safety in Michigan. As a former sheriff, Lori said he understands the importance of reducing crime in Michigan’s largest cities to …

  St. Joseph County’s search for an interim finance director may lead it to someone who has retired from the position in a different county. Though the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners did not discuss the matter during its bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, minutes from the commission’s executive committee meeting show a suggestion was made to consider finding a recently …

Police in Union City say human bones found under attic floorboards of a home may be more than 100 years old.  The bones were found January 12 along with an old corset at the home of Bryant and Teasha McIntosh in Union City.  Lt. Chris Mathis of the Union City Police Department says the find was made when the couple’s …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed to issue an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate to American Axle Manufacturing. The measure means the Detroit-based company will continue with its $102 million investment in its Three Rivers plant, where expansion will include a line to create components for a passenger/crossover vehicle being developed and introduced by a …

Sheriff Brad Balk reports that the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded to a complaint of a breaking and entering of the Nottawa Township Library between 1 p.m. Sunday and 8.30 a.m. Monday. According to a department news release, suspects made entry from the rear of the building by smashing a window. Investigators found that a web camera and four …

The Three Rivers Fire Department is offering a limited number of seats to the public for its upcoming medical first-responder course. The class will meet 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, and at an unspecified time on an occasional Saturday at the station. Chief Dan Tomlinson said the course is a good public-service opportunity for people interested in pursuing …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners tonight have scheduled a public hearing on a tax-exemption request being made by American Axle Manufacturing. The company is seeking exemption status on nearly $83 million of a $102 million investment in machinery and building improvements being proposed at its Three Rivers plant. A 12-year exemption is being sought by American Axle, the …