News

Items from a residence in Colon Township were stolen during a forced-entry break-in last week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called to the 32000 block of Decker Road, where jewelry and a number of other items were stolen. The victim told police the incident likely occurred between Thursday last week and this past Sunday.

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred last weekend in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, a barn was entered by the suspect and cigarettes were stolen from a vehicle parked inside. The suspect was confronted by a resident and fled the area on foot, westbound toward Correll Road.

Michigan State University police led a dramatic duck rescue Wednesday on the East Lansing campus. Around 8 a.m., a mother duck attempted to lead her 10 ducklings across West Shaw Lane near Red Cedar Road. While the mother duck and one duckling crossed successfully, 9 ducklings fell into a storm sewer. MSU police managed traffic and along with other MSU …

Officials from school districts in Three Rivers and White Pigeon saw non-homestead millage renewals pass with ease Tuesday. In Three Rivers, nearly two-thirds of the 612 participating voters OK’d an 18-mill renewal levied to the tax bills of commercial and non-homestead properties. The millage generates nearly $3.7 million annually and represents about 15 percent of the district’s annual budget. White …

Smoother roads will be appearing in Sturgis over the next decade, as voters Tuesday supported a 3-mill increase dedicated to street improvements and sidewalk repairs. The 10-year millage is expected to generate about $6.7 million in all, thanks to voter support of the proposal, which passed by a 3-to-2 margin. Mayor Ken Malone said the 3 mills will appear on …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners were asked Tuesday to consider providing financial support to help establish a new animal shelter. Proposed as a jointly run operation between the county and the newly formed River Country Humane Society, the potential facility is being eyed at the 12-acre location previously occupied by Finnerman’s Farm and Garden Equipment site …

Assistance from the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team helped Sturgis Police take custody of a man wanted in connection with a domestic-battery complaint filed last month. Sturgis police said Geoffrey Hunt, 24, was sought in Sturgis and Three Rivers after the report was filed regarding an incident in the 1200 block of East Chicago Road. Sturgis investigators were advised Hunt …

A 65-year-old Kalamazoo woman was treated for injuries she suffered last week following a one-car crash in Flowerfield Township. Officials from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Donna Rees was driving west on M-216 when she said she swerved to avoid striking a small animal and drove off the roadway east of Bent Road. Witnesses told investigators they observed …

A motorcyclist and passenger participating in a memorial ride were injured after they were thrown from their cycle over the weekend in Mottville Township. State Police personnel said White Pigeon residents Darrell Niles, 49, and Annette Rink, 47, were injured after the motorcycle they were riding slid on loose gravel and overturned. The incident occurred at noon Sunday at Riverside …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by half a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.3 percent March unemployment rate was less than February’s 7.8 percent. Furthermore, the March unemployment rate was 1.9 percent less than the same month one …