News

A South Bend man died earlier this week in a single-vehicle collision in Constantine Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 7 p.m. Tuesday to North River Road, near Quaker Road, in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators said deputies arrived to find the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. Deputies removed the 74-year-old passenger from the vehicle and …

Sturgis Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help with its Christmas toy program. Help is needed setting up toys from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 21; shoppers are needed 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 22; and volunteers to assist families with shopping 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 23. Potential volunteers are advised to contact Kevin or …

Michigan State Police troopers responded Wednesday morning to a 17-vehicle crash in Calhoun County’s Marshall Township. State police said the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on the Verona Road overpass over Interstate 94. Authorities said no serious injuries were reported. Icy road conditions are believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash, authorities said.

A demolition more than 20 years in the making started around 10 a.m. Tuesday, as crews began leveling the old Three Rivers Hospital. A team from Dore & Associates of Bay County used the bucket end of an excavator to start the process. City manager Joe Bippus said weather may play a role in the projected timeline, but he said …

Three members of the St. Joseph County Grange Fair Board survived a recall attempt. Tony Hochstetler, Gary Clark and Tricia Ulsh were targeted for their part in the October dismissal of former fair manager Missi Tefft. During the Fair Association’s annual meeting Monday, an anonymous, paper vote was taken to determine the trio’s fate. Though “yes” votes in favor of …

The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce last week recognized its members through the annual chamber awards dinner. The first award recognized outgoing 2022 chamber president Matt Scheske. Meanwhile, the 2022 honorary board member award went to Leonard Eishen, who served as chamber president in the early 1980s. The Phoenix Award was given to The Sparrow House, accepted by Libby Hooley. …

Members of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Board of Education agreed to apply for a school resource officer grant. ISD superintendent Teresa Belote said the competitive grant is worth $25 million across the state of Michigan. It requires grantees to provide a 50 percent cash match for approximately three years. Belote said she spoke to St. Joseph County …

St. Joseph County District Court officials said Jiminez Lopez, age 24, has been arraigned after he allegedly drove a vehicle into the rear of a car that killed a 6-month-old boy Nov. 1 in Mendon Township. Lopez is charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, driving with a suspended license and operating under the …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a single-vehicle, roll-over crash last week in Fawn River Township. The incident occurred around 11:30 Friday morning on Franks Avenue, south of Ivanhoe Street. Investigators said a 2006 Ford F-150 was traveling north on Franks Avenue when the driver, a 16-year-old boy from Sturgis, lost control. The vehicle went off the road and rolled …

St. Joseph County’s roster of public defender attorneys appears to be set for the 2022-23 state fiscal year, as the matter was discussed during last week’s board of commissioners’ executive committee meeting. Chief Public Defender Keith Stickley said the proposed eight-person roster is comprised of: Laurie Hines, John Bush, Rhonda Ives, Luke Nofsinger, Tim George, Paul Gipson, Melissa Hallack and …