News

Constantine Police Chief Jim Bedell is heading up a cause that would allow for the purchase of a headstone for Jodi Parrack’s gravesite. Bedell said the 11-year-old Constantine girl, whose killer remains at large, is buried at White Pigeon Cemetery and lacks a permanent headstone. Parrack was last seen riding her bike home from a friend’s house in November 2007. …

Southwestern Michigan authorities say a 64-year-old woman died after arriving at her home, where a propane tank explosion and fire took place.  The Cass County sheriff’s department says Arlene Kern’s 36-year-old son had started a fire in a wood burning stove on Monday and propane tank exploded at the home in Porter Township. Authorities say the man got out unharmed …

A carbon-dioxide alarm early Monday afternoon resulted in the evacuation of a lunchtime crowd at the Three Rivers McDonald’s restaurant on West Michigan Avenue. The Three Rivers Fire Department arrived shortly before 1 p.m. to find the manager had evacuated customers and employees from the restaurant. Responding firefighters turned off supply valves from the restaurant’s C02 storage tank, which is …

The Three Rivers Lions Club has selected Vera and Jim Bippus of Three Rivers as its 2012 “Citizens of the Year.” The selection makes them the fourth married couple to win the award since the local Lions Club started its Citizen of the Year program in 1965. In keeping with its tradition, the Lions Club and its Citizen of the …

A 23-year-old Sturgis man was charged with a number of offenses after he fled from Sturgis police late last week. Phillip Royer was charged with fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing an officer, driving on a suspended license and also was charged with a parole violation. His arrest culminated after Sturgis police attempted to stop him for a moving violation …

The mild, relatively snow-free winter in southwestern Michigan could contribute to a condition known as sand colic in horses.  The lack of snow cover has resulted in horses ingesting extra sand as they feed. Normally, snow cover up to four months of the year allows horses to rid their bodies of the sand swallowed at other times.  Michigan State University Extension warns …

A northern Indiana coroner says a 9-year-old boy suffocated to death after being trapped under a pile of cornmeal. The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department says Kevin Burkholder was tunneling through the cornmeal when it collapsed on him. The coroner’s office has ruled the death an accident.  The sheriff’s department says police were called Sunday night to the site near the …

An Indiana man who was brought to the attention of police after a number of incidents March 17 was arraigned in court Friday. St. Joseph County officials said Jerry Hillegas, 46, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and violation of a charitable solicitation. Hillegas on March 17 confronted a woman at a downtown business and asked …

St. Joseph County is on its way to having its own Marine Corps League. Following a 90-minute meeting Saturday at Mendon Village Hall, a group seeking the county’s own league was given preliminary approval from the state’s top league official. With a turnout of nearly 20 prospective members at the organizational meeting, the only hurdle to clear is the national …

Flags in Sturgis are flying at half-staff today to honor a former mayor, Don Easterday. Easterday, 84, passed away Thursday. He served as mayor from 1988 through 1992. City offices will close at 3:30 p.m. today so employees may attend Easterday’s funeral.