Police

A Three Rivers residence sustained damage following an attic fire late Monday. Three Rivers fire officials were called at 11:20 p.m. to the 100 block of Wood Street regarding smoke emitting from the roofline. The fire was extinguished quickly and all occupants were able to evacuate safely. Investigators were expected to return to the location Tuesday, but an initial report …

The reward for finding who was responsible for damage at Oak Lawn Cemetery earlier this month in Sturgis has been raised to $3,000, thanks to donations from a number of area businesses. Police said the vandalism occurred between April 1 and 3. In all, 34 headstones – some dating to the 1800s – were damaged. Other damage included shots from …

Cases associated with marijuana and methamphetamine were the most common drug-related incidents handled by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department in 2015. Led by Sheriff Brad Balk and aided largely by Captain Jason Bingaman, the department’s annual report was presented to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. The report featured an assortment of statistics related to crime, narcotics …

Remnants of methamphetamine labs have been found in the past two weeks on roadsides in Branch County. The Daily Reporter of Coldwater reported Monday that two certified meth disposal officers have been called on to remove 15 meth labs. Sheriff John Pollack says people should be suspicious before picking up bottles that are found, and to leave them alone if …

The sheriff’s department’s annual report tops the agenda for today’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Other matters appearing before the commission include an equalization report, a request from animal control for a fundraiser and four remonumentation contracts. Commissioners meet at 5 o’clock in the third-floor commissioners’ room at the county courthouse.

Three Rivers Police Chief Tom Bringman wishes to inform local businesses about numerous, recent reports of counterfeit bills attempting to be used for payment. Bringman in a department media release said the issue has become prevalent over the past few weeks, during which retail employees have refused what appeared to be fake $100 and $20 bills. Still, Bringman reminded that …

A 74-year-old Lockport Township woman was hospitalized for shortness of breath after a vehicle driven by an alleged drunken driver crashed into her house last week. State police said troopers were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. Friday to the 18000 block of South River Road regarding a vehicle that had crashed into the side of a residence. Investigators determined a 36-year-old …

A Kalamazoo woman died and one man was injured in a two-vehicle fatal accident Saturday in Lockport Township. State police said Patricia Buelow, 62, was a passenger in a car being driven by 64-year-old Keith Lewis of Three Rivers. Lewis was southbound on U.S. 131 at North Main Street at 2:20 p.m. when he turned left in front of a …

An Elkhart man died over the weekend after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a pickup in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said 22-year-old Daimon Leader was driving on M-205 in Mason Township when a pickup turned off the highway, onto Cassopolis Road and into Leader’s motorcycle. The incident occurred at 12:26 a.m. Saturday. Underwood said the pickup …

A 17-year-old Centreville girl was not injured after she ran a red light and her vehicle collided with a farm truck Wednesday in Fabius Township. State police said Hannah Griffith was driving north on U.S. 131 when she failed to stop at a red light at the Hoffman Road intersection. Her vehicle struck a truck turning north from Hoffman Road …