News

Motorists in Centreville Tuesday morning were in store for a treat, as the St. Joseph County United Way started its 2014 campaign with the annual Donut Drive. Executive director Kelly Hostetler said the donut drive also serves as a public thank you for the support provided to the Centreville-based agency. United Way volunteers will be in each of the county’s …

Officials from the Mendon Riverfest have announced the winners of Saturday’s third annual Tom Frisbie Memorial Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament. Bristol, Ind. resident Sharon Covello was the first-place winner. Finishing second and third were Jim Madden and John McClain. The three chose to split the pot and each took home $370. As first-place finisher, however, Covello was given a …

A 34-year-old Three Rivers woman was cited for disregarding a traffic signal following a two-vehicle crash last week in Three Rivers. Three Rivers police said Shannon Lemon was driving south on Elm Street at 7:12 a.m. Friday when she failed to stop at the intersection of Hoffman Street. Her vehicle struck an eastbound car driven by 61-year-old Kalamazoo resident Michael …

The windows of a car were smashed and its tires slashed during a dispute involving three people over the weekend in Sturgis. According to the Sturgis Police Department, officers were called at 5 a.m. Sunday to the 500 block of North Nottawa Street to what was described as the sound of gun shots. Upon arrival, officers found two males and …

Michigan tied for having the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation in July, according to figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both Michigan and Georgia had a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.8 percent last month. Nevada topped the rankings with a 9.5 percent unemployment rate, followed by Illinois at 9.2 percent. While Rhode Island and North …

An Auburn Hills man is facing time in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a retail fraud scheme that bilked Home Depot stores in 13 states out of more that $300,000. Mlive.com reports 47-year-old Christopher Smith pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud last week in Flint U.S. District Court. He’s accused in a scheme that stretched …

A potential misdemeanor charge against St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton will be decided by Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. The neighboring county was chosen Friday by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to review the case. Eaton is an elected official and, following protocol, the matter must be delegated outside the county he represents. The case against Eaton stems from …

Three area men face drug-related charges after a home in the 64000 block of Burr Oak Road was raided by police Wednesday in Burr Oak Township. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit located methamphetamine and evidence of the manufacturing of meth, according to a sheriff’s department media release. Police are pursuing charges of possession of meth, possession …

Thanks to the participation of about 125 people, Saturday’s 5K walk/run and 1-mile Fun Run helped raise approximately $7,200 for the 1 Lt. Jonathan W. Edds Memorial Fund. In the four-year history of the walk and run – sponsored by the White Pigeon Parks and Recreation Department – more than $34,000 has been raised for the fund created in honor …

The 26th Mendon Riverfest is in the books and organizers of the three-day community festival are calling it a success. The event-ending fireworks show Saturday night attracted several hundred people to Reed Riverside Park. Earlier in the day, a canoe race, kayak relay, canoe swamp, toy-boat and rubber-duck races and pontoon rides all took place on the St. Joseph River. …