News

A Nautilus marine battery was stolen from a pontoon boat between June 3 and 23 at Portage Lake in Mendon Township. The victim told sheriff’s officials the pontoon was partially pulled up on shore and it appears the suspect unhooked boat wiring from the battery. Value of the battery was estimated at about $100.

The contract for Constantine Public Schools Superintendent Chuck Frisbie was extended into 2016 by district officials this week. Frisbie, who has served five years as chief of the county’s third-largest school district, will remain on board at least through the end of the 2015-16 academic year. District officials gave Frisbie a glowing review during Monday’s board meeting. The 51-year-old Frisbie, …

A 42-year-old Porter Township man faces up to 20 years in prison after he was found guilty of stalking and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, by a Cass County jury earlier this month. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Shawn Lockmondy will be sentenced July 12 in Circuit Court after the two-day jury trial …

State Rep. Matt Lori last week applauded his House colleagues for approving a bill he introduced to reform the Medicaid system while expanding coverage for nearly half a million needy Michigan residents. The measure cleared the House with strong bipartisan support, Lori said. The reform includes several safeguards, which will provide those who come under the new guidelines to obtain …

Two longtime Sturgis residents were named its citizens of the year during a Monday kick-of dinner for the second annual Sturgis Fest community celebration. Claudia Pahls and Larry Franks were honored during the event. Pahls has been an educator at Sturgis High School since 1980, most recently serving as a career prep coordinator. Franks is past president of Burr Oak …

A 28-year-old St. Joseph County man suspected of robbing the Centreville Shell Mart has been arrested in Chicago. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Chicago Police arrested Demetrius Banks Saturday night outside a residence in the city. Banks was caught in the backyard of a residence where police were called to report a suspicious person on the property. Banks, …

An 87-year-ol Constantine man was not injured after he drove into a farm vehicle last week in Florence Township. Michigan State Police said George Cole was cited for disobeying a stop sign after he struck an ATV driven by 74-year-old Paul Steffel, of Sturgis. Steffel was thrown from his ATV and was treated at Sturgis Hospital for minor injuries. Steffel …

A 16-year-old Three Rivers girl has returned home after she was reported missing June 14. Three Rivers Police said they received contact from Aleah Means Friday evening, a week after she was believed to be in Kalamazoo with a 21-year-old man. Police have not provided information about where she spent the week, though they noted Means left Three Rivers on …

Last weekend’s Three Rivers Relay for Life event was a success, as event organizers said they surpassed their goal by a slim margin. Danielle Rohrer, 2013 relay for Life chairperson, said this year’s goal was $132,000, and toward the conclusion of the 24-hour event, it surpassed the goal by more than $1,600. A small amount of additional pledge dollars are …

Members of the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County are making a public appeal for donations to help control the population of feral and free-roaming cats within the county. The number of feral and free-roaming cats in the county is at a crisis level, according to ARF members, who are soliciting $10 donations from the public to help cover …