Government

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working alongside the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to decrease impaired driving. Starting Friday and continuing through Jan. 1, sheriff’s deputies will be participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement period. ln support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of local residents, …

Michigan State Police “Stuff a Blue Goose” event generated a considerable amount of holiday food and toys for less fortunate families in St. Joseph County. The one-day collection took place Dec. 2 outside Walmart stores in Three Rivers and Sturgis. Sgt. Todd Peterson said the 2023 drive netted nearly 900 pounds of food and about 1,400 toys at the Three …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters issued a media release related to drinking water. Peters stated he helped pass a bipartisan infrastructure law, which included $15 billion to help remove and replace lead pipes in Michigan communities. He said the investment will support a transformative effort to replace lead pipes and help more families access safe drinking water. Peters said through his …

Nine of the 11 drug-related deaths in St. Joseph County last year involved either methamphetamine or fentanyl, according to the county’s medical examiner, Joyce deJong. She said there have been six drug-related fatalities in St. Joseph County through the first half of 2023. In every case, meth and/or fentanyl were involved, deJong said. Eight men and five women were drug-overdose …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made appointments and a re-appointment during their meeting this week. The board re-appointed commissioners Ken Malone and Rick Shaffer, and appointed John Kroggel, to the county’s Parks and Recreation Commission. Meanwhile, Ivin Riddle was re-appointed to the Department of Health and Human Services board. Also, Amanda Miller was appointed to the Pivotal Board. Pivotal …

A 911 call center on Monday took some responsibility for an Amtrak train derailment last week in southwestern Michigan, saying it misidentified a crossing and contacted a different railroad to warn that a car was stuck on tracks. The train with 200 passengers crashed into the empty car and a tow truck Thursday night near New Buffalo. Six people on the train …

An Amtrak train heading to Chicago with 200 passengers derailed after striking an unoccupied vehicle and a tow truck in southwestern Michigan, authorities said Friday. “The engineer and approximately 10 passengers received non-life threatening injuries and were treated by local ambulance services,” the Berrien County sheriff’s office said. The train derailed but remained upright. The crash happened Thursday evening near …

Area police agencies seized more than six dozen illegally possessed firearms during a raid on a Sherman Township home Tuesday in the 25000 block of Hiawatha Drive, according to a release from Michigan State Police. No arrests were made but evidence will be forwarded to federal officials and the St. Joseph County prosecuting attorney for possible charges, investigators said. During …

Incumbent Tom Lowry was elected to serve two more years as mayor of Three Rivers. Unofficial results of Tuesday’s election show Lowry earned 479 votes. His challenger, Vernis Mims Jr., captured 428 votes. Lowry has served as the city’s mayor for 26 years. Meanwhile, all three incumbent city commission members were re-elected to two-year terms. First District incumbent Pat Dayne …

Constantine Township received the green light to create a special-assessment district in support of fire protection and ambulance service. The request received 124 yes votes to 97 opposed. Full details of how the half-mill will be allocated is to be a topic of discussion this morning during a special meeting by township officials. The township’s other request, which would have …