Government

Continued effort toward a balanced budget, development of a new Commission On Aging facility and progress toward updating the courts building are a few of the goals the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners faces in 2019. Dennis Allen, chair of the five-member board, said there is no shortage of work ahead for commissioners. Regarding the county’s finances, Allen said …

Three Rivers police are investigating a shooting incident reported Friday night at the Meadows Lane Village trailer park. Officer responded to the area of 13th and Madison streets in response to multiple shots fired. A caller to central dispatch, however, said several people apparently involved in the incident fled the scene before officers arrived. K9 officer Django was brought to …

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in a single-vehicle accident last week in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. State police said troopers were called shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday to Garfield Road, near North Behnke Road, in response to a car that had struck a tree. Authorities said the 38-year-old driver was trapped inside the vehicle and required the …

Tools, electronics and liquor were reported stolen from residences at Long Lake in Fabius Township, according to state troopers. The incidents were reported Sunday morning and occurred in the 10000 block of Walnut Drive. Victims told investigators that the incident occurred between Nov. 9 and Saturday.

Approval was given last week by county commissioners to Westside Recycling and Disposal to allow drop-off of e-waste items on Saturdays. The action took place during last week’s county commission meeting. No budget amendment was necessary but the action appeared before commissioners because the matter was a change to the contract between the two parties. According to the amended agreement, …

A month after supporting a tentative agreement, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made official its agreements with nine county unions. Commissioners approved the three-year proposals, which had already been ratified by the respective unions. In all, the nine unions represent more than 100 employees; nearly two-thirds of whom work for the sheriff’s department. County administrator Teresa Doehring noted that …

The Three Rivers Fire Department last week unveiled the newest addition to its vehicle fleet. The Spartan 180 fire engine cost $435,000 and has the capacity to pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute, according to chief Carl Holcomb. He added that the truck can carry 750 gallons of water through its onboard tank. With the latest vehicle delivered, the …

A state trooper has been injured after his marked patrol car crashed along the Indiana Toll Road in St. Joseph County near South Bend. State police say Master Trooper Bradley Kaizer was released Wednesday from a hospital after receiving treatment for cuts and abrasions. Kaizer was attempting to catch up to another vehicle for a traffic violation about 8 a.m. …

Indiana authorities said a Three Rivers man was at fault in a two-vehicle accident in LaGrange County last week. Sheriff’s officials were called the evening of Dec. 17 to County Road 700 South, where 27-year-old Christopher Kilgore was driving a farm truck. Kilgore told investigators his foot slipped off the truck’s gas pedal and wedged under the brake pedal. As …

Authorities have identified a 24-year-old western Michigan man killed in what was believed to be a crash involving a deer. The Allegan County sheriff’s office says Monday that the body of Roky Vasquez-Vasquez was found about 8:50 a.m. Friday on the shoulder of U.S. 131 near Wayland, south of Grand Rapids. About three hours earlier, a motorist reported striking a …