News

Merissa Countryman, St. Joseph County Victim Rights coordinator, is helping orchestrate “Purses With a Purpose.” The event is overseen by Michigan State Police in Paw Paw and benefits women who are survivors of sexual assault. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to secure a bag or purse and include inside it comfort items such as toiletries, hand sanitizer, socks and …

The fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya in Michigan raises questions about why a traffic stop turned into a foot chase and vigorous tussle before the motorist was killed by a police officer while facing the ground. Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man, was shot in the head in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on April 4. The city’s new police chief took the unusual step …

Two Cassopolis men were involved in a fatal, head-on collision Thursday in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 6:30 a.m. to an area on M-60, east of Gards Prairie Road. Investigators said 67-year-old Richard Affriseo and 19-year-old Ahsan Hart were involved in the crash. Hart was airlifted to South Bend Memorial, while Affriseo succumbed …

Three Rivers Police Chief Scott Boling said he expects to issue an update regarding the body found earlier this week in Three Rivers. Boling said the remains have been sent to Western Michigan University’s medical school for examination. Boling said he is waiting to hear more information from WMU officials. Until then, Boling said he would prefer to not speculate …

A Sturgis-area resident pleaded no contest Monday to manslaughter with a motor vehicle in an April 2021 crash that resulted in the death of 13-year-old Landen Risner. Risner died April 18 from head injuries after he was airlifted from the scene. Daniel Silich, 43, also pleaded no contest to failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering …

St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring said the county will host an American Rescue Plan Act session for local government entities at 7 p.m. Thursday at Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence in Three Rivers. Doehring said officials from all local cities, villages and townships are invited to attend the input session, in which they can make requests for consideration by …

Winds gusting as high as 60 mph buffeted Illinois, Indiana and Michigan on Thursday, blowing down a light pole in Chicago and causing power outages. A 60 mph gust was recorded at the airport in Valparaiso, Indiana, and a 59 mph gust was measured at Chicago Midway International Airport, the National Weather Service said. Winds damaged power lines, trees and …

The four candidates interviewing next week for the position of Centreville Public Schools superintendent were identified Wednesday. Patrick Kreager, a consultant with Michigan Association of School Boards said the four candidates chosen from a pool of 17 applicants are: Chad Brady, interim superintendent; Jerome Wolff, superintendent at Nottawa Community School; Jeremy Wright, Plainwell High School principal; and Barry Younghans, assistant …

St. Joseph County officials are weighing several requests as they move forward with deciding how to spend nearly $12 million in federally issued funds. During their executive committee meeting Tuesday, commissioners fielded requests from various county officials in hopes their proposal makes the cut. St. Joseph County last year received a one-time payment of $11.8 million through the American Rescue …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education members have established a roster of four candidates to interview for superintendent. During a special meeting Monday, the board narrowed a list of 17 applicants to the quartet who will be interviewed later this month. In addition, board members reviewed a number of potential questions and settled on 12 that will be posed to …