News

A memorial marker commemorating the spot where Calista Springer died in a house fire was decorated Monday by people remembering the four-year anniversary of the Centreville girl’s death. The 16-year-old Springer suffered smoke inhalation and was burned while chained to her bed when a faulty vacuum sweeper started the fire. Balloons, flowers and stuffed animals were left at the marker …

Rick Santorum was the top vote-getter in St. Joseph County Tuesday. The presidential primary election in Michigan, however, was claimed by Mitt Romney, who came in second place in St. Joseph County. Unofficial results from County Clerk Pattie Bender’s office show Santorum earned more than 2,500 votes while Romney had more than 1,700. Barrack Obama, the only candidate listed on …

Officials from the St. Joe Community Co-op said customer abuse of a drop-off container outside their Sturgis facility has prompted the co-op to no longer accept recyclable paper products. The measure goes into effect immediately. Co-op officials said the drop-off bin was continually filled with household garbage and recyclable items other than paper products. The agency will continue to pick …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week made appointments to a pair of boards. Three Rivers-area resident Connie Stoppenbach was appointed to fill a term on the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority Board. Her term will expire in April 2013. Meanwhile, reappointments of Sturgis-area resident Betty Massey and commissioners Don Eaton, John Dobberteen and Robin Baker were made to …

The 27th Walk for Warmth, which took place Saturday at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds, raised more than $6,100. The funds will be used to assist people who are elderly, disabled or of low income. Though event organizers were hoping to raise $12,000, they said the amount raised and enthusiasm from the more than a dozen people who participated was …

A 20-year-old Colon man was treated for minor injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident over the weekend in Park Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Kyle Wirgau was driving west on Heimbach Road Saturday night when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy patch over the roadway and went off the south side …

The Three Rivers girls basketball team got its postseason off on the right foot Monday when it rallied to beat Vicksburg. The opening round of district play saw the 18-3 Lady Wildcats top the host school, 43-33. Three Rivers was led by Linsey Masnari’s 18 points, while Teagan Reeves chipped in 11. The Three Rivers squad, which will see action …

Indiana’s motorcycle dealers will be allowed to buy and sell their bikes on Sundays under a change in state law that legislators have approved.  The Indiana House voted 68-31 on Monday in favor of the bill removing the current ban on Sunday motorcycle sales.  Bill sponsor Rep. Ed Soliday of Valparaiso says all the states surrounding Indiana already allow Sunday …

The Sturgis Fire Department was called out to a house fire Monday morning on Griffith Street. The homeowner, Joyce Burg, was covered in black soot when firefighters arrived. She said she heard a loud “pop” near the microwave and found flames. She was taken to Sturgis Hospital for evaluation. The kitchen sustained heavy damage, and the entire structure sustained smoke, …

A Sturgis police officer was treated for minor injuries following an incident with a 19-year-old man over the weekend. About 7:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of a suspicious person in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue. Once located by police, the suspect left the scene in what was later discovered to be a stolen vehicle. He eventually …