Government

A significant moment in the redevelopment of the former Three Rivers Inn took place Monday afternoon. The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is oversaw a ceremonial groundbreaking at the West Broadway Street site. Renamed the Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence, the building will be the new headquarters for the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging’s Three Rivers site, a …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has been appointed to a key role in helping determine the policy priorities of Michigan House Republicans for the 2019-20 session. Miller was appointed chair of the Policy Action Plan Committee by Speaker-elect Lee Chatfield. The temporary panel will help collect policy ideas toward building the House Republican action plan for the next two years. Miller …

A southwestern Michigan woman who entered a plea deal after being charged in her 87-year-old mother’s overdose death has been sentenced to 5-15 years in prison. Sixty-year-old Susan Kubicek of Portage learned her punishment Monday after pleading no contest to involuntary manslaughter in the May 2017 death of Dorothy Allen. Kalamazoo County authorities say Allen got a morphine dose 80 …

Authorities say a southwestern Michigan police officer has been struck by a car on a sidewalk. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says the officer was with a group of investigators talking to neighbors Monday afternoon when the vehicle struck and injured him. The department says other officers performed first aid on the injured officer, who was taken to a …

Hand tools and audio equipment were among the items taken during a larceny-from-a-vehicle incident last week in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s deputies responded to an area near North River Road and U.S. 131, where the incident occurred between 4 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday. The theft occurred from a Ford SUV, silver in color, which was parked along North River …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk is seeking young men and women interested in serving in the department’s explorer program. Open to people 14 to 21 years of age, the explorer program is encouraged for people who have an interest in law enforcement as a potential career. Prospective participants must have completed eighth grade at least. More information is available …

A number of people were reappointed to various boards and committees following action Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Linda Leensvaart was reappointed to a two-year term to the county’s 911 Advisory Board. Her term will expire at the end of 2020. Meanwhile, Three Rivers-area resident Eric Shafer was reappointed to a three-year term to the St. …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week reluctantly accepted a grant from Michigan’s Indigent Defense Commission. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved a motion netting the county $266,000 from the state source. The discontent came from the fact the county is obliged to satisfy terms of the agreement, which amounts to $414,000. The grant is retroactive to …

In light of an incident earlier this week in Branch County’s Sherwood Township, law-enforcement authorities are reminding the public to keep their vehicle doors locked at all times when parked outside. Troopers were called to the 1000 block of Ralston Road after it was discovered that a wallet was stolen from a vehicle between 4:40 and 9 p.m. Tuesday. Upon …

An elderly Branch County man was the victim of a fraud inspection that resulted in the theft of his safe. Michigan State Police troopers said the incident occurred mid-morning last week at a residence in the 900 block of South Fremont Road in California Township. The suspects preoccupied the elderly resident by asking to inspect his electric service. It is …