News

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 …

A fire this week at a home in Sturgis caused minor damage. According to Sturgis Fire Department, the incident took place around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at 203 S. Jefferson St. Dispatchers said smoke and fire were detected in the attic. Fire crews found a small fire after opening up a knee wall in the second-story attic. The fire was quickly …

Natalie Boland will be honored by Sturgis Exchange Club when it conducts its 77th annual “Book of Golden Deeds” award ceremony next month. Boland was selected for the award in recognition of her volunteer efforts and ability to offer help to so many organizations that have positively affected the community. The program will take place at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 6 …

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering announced Tuesday she will not seek re-election in the August primary to a third, four-year term. Addressing the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Ratering on Tuesday said she plans to retire after her current term expires at the end of the year. The 60-year-old Ratering was appointed by a statutory committee in February …

Erin Goff, who has spent the past five years as director of community corrections, has been named emergency management coordinator of St. Joseph County. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Goff was tapped to succeed TJ Baker, who has returned to work for the sheriff department’s patrol division. Due to Goff’s new job, commissioners Tuesday approved an exception to the county …

Three Rivers police officers last weekend arrested a man with a loaded gun. According to a department media release, officers were called around 11 p.m. Saturday to the 800 block of South Main Street in response to a man holding a gun to a woman’s head. The woman was not harmed and the man left the area, fleeing on foot. …

Permission for use of the courthouse property was granted Tuesday to organizers of the Centreville Covered Bridge Days festival. County commissioners OK’d the written request from festival chair Vicki Allen. The two-day festival begins July 17 and permission for use of the property’s east, north and west lawns was given for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the first day and …

More information about a fatal, two-vehicle collision last week in Constantine Township has been released by authorities. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said 31-year-old Kila Nichole Stamper of Elkhart died as a result of the vehicle in which she was a passenger colliding with a semi tractor-trailer. Deputies were called around 7 p.m. Jan. 16 to the intersection of …

A Flowerfield Township teen who apparently ran away from home has returned to her residence. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies responded to the 14000 block of Burlew Road in Flowerfield Township for a runaway juvenile. The 15-year-old juvenile, who was later identified as Maslin Ruby-Ann Shepherd, was last seen between 8:40 and 9:10 p.m. Monday. Deputies said Shepherd returned to …

Sheriff’s officials are continuing to investigate a fatal collision that happened Saturday in Florence Township. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. and involved a single vehicle. Investigators said a Ford Explorer driven by Richard Sanford, age 66, of Constantine, was heading east on Banker Road when he lost control and the SUV left the roadway. It subsequently struck several trees …