News

A plan introduced by state Rep. Aaron Miller, and signed into law in October updating and clarifying Michigan counseling practices, took effect this week. Updates were needed because the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs proposed a rule that would have precluded many licensed professional counselors from using counseling techniques and psychotherapy to treat patients. LPCs are invaluable to …

The Michigan Senate has voted to require that a study be done to assess the feasibility of tolls along the state’s highways. The bill was sent Tuesday to the House for future consideration. It’s among several road funding-related measures that cleared the Republican-led Senate. Democrats voted against bills they said would seek to shift funds so higher union-level wages would …

An assortment of drugs and nearly $1,000 in cash were confiscated from a Three Rivers residence over the weekend. Officers from the Three Rivers Police Department, in conjunction with the Southwest Enforcement Team, responded Saturday afternoon to River Trail Apartments in response to a report of an unwanted subject. While investigating the situation, officers noticed a minor in possession of …

Several items were taken from a Sherman Township residence last week. State police said the incident occurred late Friday or early Saturday from a location in the 24000 block of Banker Road. The victim said a large number of tools were taken. Also stolen were an air compressor, a riding lawn mower, an edger and trimmer, as well as other …

The man who brought a gun to a robbery in November 2018 in Flowerfield Township was sentenced Friday to 12 to 60 years in prison. St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman said Tyler McNeil, 22, was the first to take a deal by agreeing to testify against co-defendants Theron Hunt, 43, of Dowagiac – now convicted of first- degree …

Michigan Department of Transportation officials will host an open house next week regarding a potential bridge project in Constantine. According to a department-issued media release, the meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Constantine Village Office. The occasion will provide an opportunity to discuss the possibility of reducing the U.S. 131 Business …

The annual Point-In-Time count will take place statewide Wednesday. The count collects information about homeless individuals encountered throughout a 24- hour period across the state, including St. Joseph County. As part of the statewide count, the St. Joseph County Housing Task Force is preparing to count the homeless and unsheltered people both on the streets and in shelters countywide. The …

Michigan State Police troopers were called last week to investigate an attempted fraud involving a senior citizen in Branch County. An elderly person was contacted by an individual she believed to be her grandson, who stated he was in court for an at-fault crash and needed $15,000 in order to be released. The victim went to her bank, withdrew the …

Michigan regulators have approved a rate increase for Indiana Michigan Power, though one significantly smaller than initially sought by the utility. The Michigan Public Service Commission approved an agreement Thursday allowing the Fort Wayne-based company to boost its Michigan customers’ rates by a total of $36.4 million annually. That’s about 38 percent lower than the proposed $58.5 million increase. Regulators …

Mark Lillywhite was sworn in Tuesday as St. Joseph County sheriff. During a ceremony at the county courthouse, county clerk Lindsay Oswald swore in Lillywhite, who will complete the remaining 11 months of Brad Balk’s four-year term. Balk announced in November his retirement effective Jan. 31. Lillywhite, 44, said he appreciates the opportunity to complete Balk’s term and plans to …