News

The first arrest made by the enhanced St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit was made in the city of Sturgis this week. A 42-year-old man was arrested following a raid at his residence in the 700 block of Lancashire Drive. The arrest completes an investigation of several months and was made by the SCAN unit, which was recently expanded to …

A two-car accident Monday afternoon east of Centreville resulted in a local woman and two children seeking medical treatment. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’ Department, a 31-year-old Sturgis woman was driving east on M-86 when her vehicle was struck by an 80-year-old White Pigeon woman shortly after 3 p.m. The White Pigeon woman was attempting to turn west …

The new dean of finance and administration at Glen Oaks Community College was introduced at Wednesday’s board meeting. Bruce Zakrzewski previously worked in finance and administration positions at Lake Michigan College, and a pair of Indiana-based businesses in the South Bend region before that.

The city of Three Rivers and Three Rivers Community Schools both landed a handsome windfall Tuesday from St. Joseph County’s largest employer. During a ceremonial check presentation at Three Rivers-based American Axle & Manufacturing, Mayor Tom Lowry was given $400,000 from American Axle officials. The city will retain $300,000 of the amount, while the $100,000 balance was earmarked for the …

Members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education are in the early stages of planning to find a new superintendent after Roger Rathburn retires at the end of the 2013-14 academic year. During their twice-a-month meeting this week, board members agreed to designate a Nov. 19 work session as a time to include presentations from firms that specialize …

The Three Rivers Public Library is expected to move forward with a plan to reconfigure its parking lot. Located on the south side of West Michigan Avenue, the library is planning to improve traffic flow in its lot, revise signage and address its landscaping with low-maintenance trees and bushes. The plans were presented to Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners during …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioner have approved a pair of three-year contracts affecting 13 employees. Nine employees with the District Court Association and four staff members under the Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Sergeant Unit received new contracts by commissioners last week. Employees in both unions will see wage increases of 2 percent in 2013 and …

Members of the St. Joseph County Conservation District and a team of volunteers completed the final river cleanup of the season on the Portage River Sept. 29. More than a dozen people were on hand to clear a section of the river between Parkville Road and North Fisher Lake Road. Volunteers collected approximately 350 pounds of debris, which included a …

A Three Rivers man who sought having his wife attacked in order to lose her unborn baby was sentenced last week to at least a year-and-a-half in prison. Todd Maddux, 32, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman for offering $300 to have his wife assaulted so she would lose his baby she was carrying. The plan, which was …

The Constantine Downtown Development Authority is seeking participants for its annual BBQ pork rib cook-off. Judging is set to take place at 5 p.m. Oct. 27 at Riverview Park and cash prizes will be given to the top three winners. Event organizers wished to note that a mandatory meeting with the Community Health Department Agency will take place at 5 …