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Four firearms-related charges have been filed against a Flowerfield Township woman who allegedly shot her husband in the upper torso Monday night. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department officials said Connie Tolbert, 54, was taken into custody after she allegedly shot her husband, 52-year-old Darryl Tolbert, at their residence. He is the pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Three Rivers. His …

Sturgis attorney Andrew Rogness has announced his candidacy for St. Joseph County District Court judge. The position will be vacated a year from now by current seat holder William Welty. Rogness said he has filed necessary paperwork with the Michigan Bureau of Elections. He previously served as a judge pro-tem in LaGrange County, Ind. Rogness is a graduate of Michigan …

A funding issue has forced Planned Parenthood to close its offices in St. Joseph and Branch counties. The impending closure of the Three Rivers and Coldwater sites will follow the same course of action already taken in Sturgis and Hillsdale. Recipients of Planned Parenthood’s offerings will have to travel to Kalamazoo or Battle Creek to continue receiving services. The agency …

Cindy Underwood has been named director of the Department of Human Services for St. Joseph and Cass counties. The move fills a spot created after her predecessor, Chris Kadulski, retired a year ago. Underwood had been serving the post in the capacity of interim director following Kadulski’s departure. Underwood is in charge of a staff of about 125 people between …

Three Rivers Community Schools recently received a positive annual audit. Superintendent Roger Rathburn and board members were told by CPA Michael Wilson that the district is in good financial position. He noted that the district’s fund balance is more than $5 million, which represents more than 20 percent of its annual expenditures. In addition, Wilson said the district ended its …

An investigation into a Dec. 10 fire at Walnut Meadows apartments in Three Rivers found that either a short or faulty wiring of a ceiling vent fan in a third-floor bathroom was responsible for starting the blaze. Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson said smoke detectors in the unit where the fire started had been removed. Even so, the 21-year-old …

Five people were arrested on methamphetamine-related charges Wednesday following surveillance of a residence in White Pigeon Township. Members of the Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team and its Emergency Support Team made five early morning arrests after the group had allegedly produced meth during the night. An informant told police a sniper was guarding the house while meth was being …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department officials arrested two Porter Township residents and took a child into protective custody after discovering evidence of a meth lab inside their residence Tuesday. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the 69000 block of Union Road and found evidence of a one-pot meth lab and materials used to manufacture meth. Multiple …

The candidate chosen to serve as St. Joseph County treasurer has indicated he will decline the position in light of a controversy over his proposed salary. Centreville native Barry Miller said he will retain his job as vice president for Century Bank and Trust in Three Rivers after county officials had a disagreement over his starting salary. According to minutes …

Constantine village officials were told Monday that an Indiana-based company is expecting to close soon on the purchase of the former Rexam plant in the village’s industrial park. During a public hearing at Monday’s village council meeting, officials from Nature’s Fuel said a few legal matters are being reviewed by their legal team. Glenn Johnson, chief operating officer, said the …