News

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 …

Citing the preferred method of obtaining news through computers, tablets and phones, the Three River Commercial News announced Tuesday it is cutting back on its days of publication. Editor and Publisher Dirk Milliman said the newspaper will reduce its print edition from six days a week to twice-weekly publication. The new schedule takes effect Feb. 1 and will see the …

A 17-year-old Cass County resident was injured after the vehicle he was driving was rear-ended last week in Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 7:50 a.m. Thursday to Marcellus Highway, near Lawrence Road. Upon further investigation, they found that Cassopolis resident Riley Bush was turning into a private driveway when his vehicle was struck from behind by …

Two weeks before he officially becomes sheriff of St. Joseph County, Mark Lillywhite was sworn in to the position Tuesday afternoon. A ceremony was set for 4 o’clock in the third-floor commissioners’ room at the Centreville courthouse, where county clerk Lindsay Oswald lead the procedure. Current sheriff Brad Balk is retiring Jan. 31, 11 months before the conclusion of the …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of 12-volt batteries from camper trailers in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. The vehicles were at a campground on Narrows Road. The suspect appeared to have cut the battery cables before removing them from the campers. Authorities did not indicate a time frame during which they think the incident occurred.

St. Joseph County employees recently held a drive to collect socks for a local agency. The Socks Drive featured contributions made by employees who attended the county’s annual Christmas luncheon sponsored by the Courthouse Girls Club. The socks will be donated to the Three Rivers Food Site for distribution to people who are known to need socks.

The footstool didn’t feel right. Well, that’s what happens when someone stashes $43,170 inside and apparently forgets about it. The money was discovered Sunday inside a footstool that was donated to a Michigan resale shop in Owosso Township, northeast of Lansing. Howard Kirby was shocked when his daughter-in-law unzipped the cushion and screamed. He was entitled to the cash, but …

A judge has set aside a life sentence for a man who was convicted of killing his pregnant girlfriend when they were teenagers and burying her body in southwestern Michigan. The decision Monday by a Cass County judge means 43-year-old Robert Leamon will get a new sentence and a chance for parole. Rebecca Stowe was strangled, and her body was …