News

St. Joseph County Commissioners approved a request from prosecutor David Marvin to add an assistant prosecutor to the office. The position comes with an $85,000 expense, which includes benefits. The matter was addressed during Tuesday’s meeting. Also, the board approved a $2,200 grant through the Sturgis Community Foundation. The grant will be applied to a youth-assessment tool used for all …

Michigan restaurants on Wednesday proposed tying indoor capacity limits to the percentage of COVID-19 tests that come back positive, contending that clear guideposts would help the hospitality industry navigate the pandemic. Bars and restaurants, which reopened for indoor dining and drinking on Feb 1. after a 2 1/2-month ban, have a 10 p.m. curfew and are limited to 25% occupancy, …

A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder in the slayings of his parents whose bodies were found in a wooded area in western Michigan. Nicholas Johnson was expected to be arraigned Thursday in Kalamazoo County District Court. Gary and Laura Johnson went missing earlier this month. Their bodies were unearthed Friday at Gourdneck State Game Area in Portage, about …

Investigators are following up on a fire that destroyed a manufacturing facility in Mottville Township earlier this week. Darkhorse Cargo’s facility was destroyed during Sunday’s blaze. A cause of the blaze was not immediately known and officials from White Pigeon Township Fire Department are attempting to trace its origin. Nobody was injured but the building was a complete loss, officials …

A Dowagiac man was injured in a single-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday to the 57000 block of Patterson Hill Road. Investigators said 19-year-old Michael Schlup was attempting to turn into a driveway and his vehicle struck a tree. Schlup was transported to Borgess Lee Hospital for medical …

A policy for the sale of city-owned property is on the agenda for discussion by the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. Other agenda items include discussion of fiscal-year 2022, sidewalk contract award, South Douglas Avenue reconstruction and a public hearing related to a site plan for Meadwobrook Farms West. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners are meeting at 6 o’clock. …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a motor vehicle from a location in Branch County’s Quincy Township. The incident occurred during the pre-dawn hours Monday in the 500 block of Ridge Road. The vehicle in question is a 1997, two-door Chevy pickup. It is blue in color with a bright-yellow snowplow attached to its front. The vehicle …

A Centreville man was arrested last week after attempting to evade police in White Pigeon Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies tried to stop a vehicle shortly before midnight Friday after noticing his vehicle did not display a valid license plate. The 33-year-old driver failed to stop and continued driving through the village of White Pigeon. The suspect vehicle became …

Organizers of the Three Rivers Water Festival recently met and decided to plan for a resumption of what would be the city’s 64th Water Festival. Christy Trammell, president & CEO of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, said it made sense to plan a 2021 festival then cancel or postpone if circumstances warrant. As it stands, the three-day festival …

A pursuit that started in Elkhart County and covered the width of St. Joseph County ended last week in Colon Township. Sheriff’s deputies said the incident took place Friday night and initially involved officers from White Pigeon and Constantine. They reported the suspect was driving at a high rate of speed and in an erratic manner. The Constantine Police Department …