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Lori gets ACU Award

The American Conservative Union recently presented state Rep. Matt Lori with the Michigan ACU Conservative Award for his votes on a wide range of conservative principles, including fiscal responsibility and protecting the rights of the unborn. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, said he is honored to be recognized for making common-sense votes based on what the taxpayers in the communities he …

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Enhanced drug-investigating division

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to move forward on a plan to enhance a drug-investigation division of the sheriff’s department. With the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers agreeing to pledge their support, commissioners signed off on financially backing the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Spearheaded by Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, the initiative will involve training …

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Lentz receives award

A veteran officer with the Sturgis Police Department was announced the recipient of the fourth annual Mike Scott Investigator of the Year award. Patrolman Bill Lentz, who joined the Sturgis force in August 1987, was presented the award by Prosecutor John McDonough during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The 54-year-old Lentz was recognized for his role in …

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Crash on interstate ramp

Police say a semi-truck hauling 41,000 pounds of meat has crashed on a southwestern Michigan exit ramp.  The crash happened early Wednesday on the ramp from southbound U.S. 131 to Interstate 94 in the Portage area.  Portage police say the driver had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.  The truck partially blocked the interchange as crews cleaned …

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Three arrested for breaking-and-entering

Three Rivers police early Monday arrested three people suspected of being involved in larceny and breaking-and-entering incidents. According to police, a caller to central dispatch indicated subjects were breaking into vehicles parked in the area of East Michigan Avenue and Water Street around 3 a.m. With the help of the department’s canine unit, officers discovered someone had broken into Riverside …

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Unemployment rate drop

St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate experienced a 1.7 percent drop from July to August. According to the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, St. Joseph County’s August unemployment was 8 percent, down from 9.7 percent in July. The August figure is lower than Michigan’s statewide August unemployment rate of 9.2 percent and the county’s …

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Barn vandalized

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Wednesday to investigate the break-in to and vandalism of a pole barn in Burr Oak Township. According to a department media release, the building – located in the 33000 block of Deer Park Road – was entered. Windows were damaged by BBs from a pellet gun and thrown rocks, investigators said, further …

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Theft of irrigation traveler

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the larceny of an irrigation traveler from a field in Leonidas Township. According to a department news release, the Heinzman traveler and 660 feet of blue hose were stolen from a field on Blossom Road, west of Shannon Road. The incident occurred last week, sometime between Monday and Friday.

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Another meth related arrest

A Sturgis resident in his mid-20s was arrested after he was found operating a methamphetamine lab out of his vehicle earlier this week. According to the Sturgis Police Department, the man was identified as a possible suspect in a retail-theft incident around 7 p.m. Tuesday at a business in the 800 block of South Centerville Road. During a follow-up investigation, …

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Two arrested for theft charges

Sturgis Police arrested two men early Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the theft of cigarettes from a gas station in LaGrange County. According to a media release, the two were stopped at an unspecified location in the city and the 33-year-old driver was found to have a suspended license. Consent was given to search the vehicle and officers uncovered …

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