News

A three-month-long road project in Branch County’s largest community began on Monday. Michigan Department of Transportation officials said a 2.2-mile stretch of U.S.12 in the city of Coldwater will be resurfaced. The construction zone will stretch from Western Avenue to Michigan Avenue. According to MDOT, the $1.4 million investment includes sanitary sewer repairs, sidewalk ramp upgrades and pavement markings. There …

A number of items were stolen during a breaking-and-entering incident last week in Constantine Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called Thursday to the 66000 block of Constantine Road in response to a breaking and entering. Deputies said suspects gained entry to a building on the property by breaking the door handle and prying open the door. Once inside, …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a reminder that weekly curbside COVID-19 testing will continue through June. The screenings are free and the only requirement is a photo ID. They take place 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Coldwater branch, 570 Marshall Road, and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays at the Three Rivers office, 1110 …

A northern Indiana man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in the 2019 torture-slaying of a woman whose body was dumped in southern Michigan. An Elkhart County judge who sentenced Matthew Murzynski on Thursday ordered that the Elkhart man be incarcerated, for his own safety, in a different prison from two other …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a larceny from a motor vehicle that occurred around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Nottawa Township. The victim was mowing a field adjacent to Nottawa Road, near Wasepi Road. Authorities said the victim had parked her car at the edge of the field while her 13- and 11-year-old sons remained inside the vehicle. The suspect …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Ron Moag recently discussed progress of work related to renovations at some of the district’s schools. In the wake of a voter-approved bond request in November 2019, work has started at Hoppin Elementary School and Three Rivers High School, and will eventually include Park, Andrews and Norton elementary schools. The request will generate $61.2 million …

A unique training opportunity later this month in St. Joseph County will combine air and ground emergency responders for a mock, multi-vehicle, crash-response simulation. The exercise will involve a multi-vehicle crash, with a responding helicopter for getting patients to definitive care as quickly as possible. In addition to West Michigan Air Care, participating fire departments will be Three Rivers, Centreville …

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses as well as suspected stolen property. State police troopers stopped a vehicle pulling a trailer Tuesday on U.S. 12 near Fiske Road after noticing an equipment violation. Troopers discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen from Steuben County, Indiana. The driver, a 39-year-old man from Union City, and the passenger, a 36-year-old woman …

St. Joseph County received the first installment of its American Rescue Plan allocation Tuesday. County finance director Angie Steinman informed commissioners during their meeting Tuesday that the amount totaled $5.9 million. County officials have been told to expect a total of nearly $12 million. Steinman said she will await direction from county treasurer Kathy Humphreys to decide in which fund …

A few minor details were resolved during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. A motion to approve what is labeled the L-4029 millage request was approved. The measure was necessary because it allows the county to levy the full 7.8575 mills to which it is entitled in order to collect property taxes. Equalization director Josh Simmons said the …