News

The Michigan House of Representatives Wednesday approved the budget for fiscal year 2014. State Rep. Matt Lori said he was happy to see continued fiscal responsibility in both the school-aid and general-fund budgets. Lori said the Michigan House has continued to be fiscally responsible with the money to which it is entrusted. The Constantine-area resident said the approved budget controls …

An Indiana man was named by Sheriff Brad Balk as St. Joseph County’s Citizen of the Year. The recognition went to Middlebury resident Andrew Finch during a brief ceremony at the sheriff’s department Tuesday. Finch helped investigators solve a pair of larcenies from Fillmore Equipment in Park Township. Finch was commended for acting on a suspicious situation after he was …

The National Weather Service reports several funnel cloud sightings, including a tornado that landed near Goodrich High School southeast of Flint. No injuries were immediately reported. The weather service didn’t directly link damage to Tuesday night’s tornado sightings in Genesee County but says high winds in the same severe thunderstorm system heavily damaged several homes. It says winds toppled numerous …

Police at Michigan State University say the school’s emergency alert system sent out a false warning of someone firing shots on the East Lansing campus. Sergeant Dan Munford tells the Lansing State Journal that the error happened about 6 p.m. Tuesday when the area received a tornado warning. He says the alert system mistakenly reported that there was an “active …

A $500 reward is being offered by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department for information related to a series of break-ins in southeastern St. Joseph County. The department said the reward is available to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction for the responsible party. Authorities are advising residents be especially alert to suspicious activity or …

The Colon Fire Department recently received a boost in its goal to purchase equipment for a new tanker/pumper truck. An international Food Fest event staged earlier this month by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church raised $1,200. A check was presented last week to Colon Fire Chief Matt Overholt. Members of the congregation said the March fire that destroyed two downtown businesses …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners set a time and date for an upcoming work session, an informal gathering that will take place at 3 p.m., June 5 at the county courthouse. Commissioner Don Eaton during Tuesday’s twice-a-month meeting said the much-discussed work session and its continued postponements was becoming a problem. He voiced his frustration over perpetual postponements …

A break-in at a Mottville Township gas station was investigated this week by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies responded shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday to the 11000 block of U.S. 12 in response to an alarm that was triggered as a result of the break-in. A department media release did not indicate whether anything was taken from the …

Three Rivers City Commissioner David York plans to leave his elected position at the end of June. York announced during Tuesday’s city commission meeting his purchase of a residence outside the city limits where he plans to live, forcing him to give up the seat he gained in November 2011. His two-year term expires at the end of the year. …

The Three Rivers farmer’s market will offer lower rates, take place at a new time and on a different day, and an effort has gone into marketing, advertising and promoting the market. Organizers of the weekly market made the announcement in a media release, which stated the changes have resulted in all 10 market spaces have being filled for the …