News

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners tied up a few loose ends last week. First, commissioner Kathy Pangle said a major project centering on roof repair at the Three Rivers Commission on Aging facility has been completed. In addition, water-caused damaged in the atrium has been repaired, she said. Next, commissioners approved exceptions to the hiring freeze regarding two positions. …

A Schoolcraft couple died in a 2-car crash Friday afternoon. The victims were identified as Joel Shaffer, age 83, and his wife, Dolores Shaffer, age 84. State police say the couple was eastbound on X Y Avenue, just south of Schoolcraft, when they collided with a southbound SUV on US-131. The names of the SUV driver, along with the passenger, …

Michigan said late Friday that 54% of adults ages 16 and up have gotten at least one COVID-19 shot, a roughly 2.5 percentage point jump after factoring in people who were vaccinated outside the state or at federal facilities. The addition of nearly 227,000 residents to the state’s count put Michigan close to a 55% benchmark Gov. Gretchen says is needed to …

Area law-enforcement authorities are continuing their search for the suspect in a shooting incident Wednesday evening at Constantine Little League fields. Village manager Mark Honeysett said the victim is a 38-year-old Cassopolis man whose name is not yet being released. Honeysett said the victim’s daughter is a member of the Cassopolis softball team and he was attending the Constantine-Cassopolis game. …

Improved broadband coverage countywide appears to be high on a wish list being compiled by county officials. The matter was discussed during Tuesday’s county board of commissioners meeting. It is believed St. Joseph County will potentially be receiving close to $12 million as part of the federal government’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster said he met earlier …

National Day of Prayer was observed locally Thursday, thanks to the efforts of a small group of parishioners from Firm Foundation Ministries. The hour-long program took place around the gazebo on the grounds of the St. Joseph County Courthouse. Vicki Allen, Marlene Hagerman, Barbara Kwiatkowski and Mary Ellen Smith were instrumental in putting together the lineup that featured prayers related …

A suspect is being sought, following a shooting incident in Constantine Wednesday evening. The incident took place shortly after 8pm at the Constantine Little League fields near Meadow Lane. A 38-year-old Cassopolis man was reportedly shot multiple times. He was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. The major crime scene task force is investigating.

A Sturgis-area man has been charged with second-degree murder following his arrest stemming from a hit-and-run fatal collision last month in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. Authorities said Daniel Silich, 42, was arrested Wednesday. Investigators said he was the driver of a car that struck 13-year-old Landen Risner and injured his 6-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister. The three were on bicycles …

Sheriff’s deputies investigated a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Sturgis man. Randy Caruthers, age 49, died after the pickup he was driving collided into a tree around 5 a.m. Tuesday in Florence Township, sheriff Mark Lillywhite said. Investigators said Caruthers was driving a Ford F-150 eastbound on Featherstone Road when he lost control of the vehicle in …

A four-wheeler was recovered by sheriff’s deputies after it was stolen earlier this week in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were notified around 8 a.m. Sunday that the 2019 Suzuki 500 was stolen from an unattached garage in the 55000 block of Parkville Road. Investigators checked a property in the 21000 block of Pinhook Road and located the …