News

A 50-year-old Cassopolis man drowned last week at a lake in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 7:30 a.m. Friday to an area at Belas Lake, where a kayak was located adrift at the northwest corner of the lake. The kayak was unoccupied but hunting and fishing equipment was floating near it. Authorities investigated …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite recently acknowledged citizens from three separate incidents for their acts of bravery and heroism. During a ceremony last week at the sheriff’s department, Lillywhite commended Rod and Tammy Chupp for their role in a May 1 crash at the intersection of M-86 and Nottawa Road in Nottawa Township. The Chupps rendered aid that likely …

Michigan State Police troopers responded to a two-vehicle, fatal crash last week in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. Troopers were called shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday to M-60, near Blossom Road. Investigators said 45-year-old Genesee County resident Mollie Royce was heading east on M-60 when her vehicle crossed the center line. It collided head-on into a vehicle driven by 56-year-old Billy …

A Three Rivers woman died earlier this week in a two-vehicle crash in Constantine Township. State police troopers were called at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday to the area of U.S. 131 and Dickinson Road. Authorities said the 39-year-old woman was driving south on U.S. 131 and her vehicle collided head-on into a northbound pickup driven by a 59-year-old man from Owosso. …

Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating the driver of a car involved in a hit-and-run incident Thursday in Mottville Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were alerted to a car-pedestrian situation at 5:35 a.m. in the area of U.S. 12 and Riverside Drive. A passerby told authorities there was an injured pedestrian in the roadway. Investigators …

Several details regarding a 13-mile project centering on U.S. 131 in St. Joseph and Kalamazoo counties were provided by Michigan Department of Transportation officials Wednesday during an information session at Schoolcraft Village Office. Project manager Sarah Fedders said the $52 million project will begin at the Rocky River in Three Rivers next spring and conclude for the season at XY …

Fourteen St. Joseph County employees were recognized this week for milestone years of service. Leading this year’s group were corrections sergeant Mason Stratton, custodian Michael Pahl and Kathy Griffin, circuit/probate court administrator. They are observing 25 years of employment. Next on the seniority list were 20-year employees detective sergeant Brian Stears, and corrections officers Frank Metz and Luke Lori. Three …

Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program recognized the work of the local Area Agency on Aging Region with the “Navigator Award – Most Worthy Mention” for work with Medicare recipients during the previous quarter. The Navigator Award recognizes the MMAP team that served the highest percentage of the Medicare population in a quarter as measured by total client contacts. MMAP is Michigan’s …

Glen Oaks Community College dedicated its new Viking Transportation building on Thursday. Located immediately south of main campus, the 100-foot by 40-foot metal building was put in place over the summer to house campus vehicles. The college has five vans, two automobiles, a pickup and a five-ton truck, along with a salt-spreader, Kubota, Bobcat and other lawn-servicing equipment. Prior to …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved funding to all 31 organizations that sought a portion of $1 million issued to the county as part of the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. During their monthly board meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved: $150,000 to Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County for the county’s housing initiative; $120,000 to St. Joseph County …