News

The first river cleanup of 2019 featured no major surprises, as about 60 pounds of debris was collected Saturday. Shaun Grace, director of the river cleanup program, said the first of six cleanups this summer took place over a 3.1-mile stretch of the Prairie River, from Findlay Road in Nottawa Township to Lake Templene. It attracted 11 volunteers. Grace said …

This week’s plans by the Michigan Department of Transportation regarding the U.S. 131 reconstruction project in Three Rivers includes a few tasks that were postponed due to rain last week. Single-lane closures on both directions of the highway will result in the continuation of median curb islands and pavement widenings. Also, workers will continue utility work on outside shoulders throughout …

A construction worker died last week in Cass County after he was electrocuted while on a job site. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the incident occurred at 11:35 p.m. Friday in the 2700 block of White Street in Howard Township. Behnke said emergency personnel were called to an AEP substation under construction in that area. Upon arrival, authorities found that Steven …

Twenty-three villages and cities with populations less than 10,000 will receive grants through a second round of funding awarded through the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Community Service Infrastructure Fund program. Established by the state Legislature in December 2018, the CSIF is a stop-gap program to help fund road projects in small communities. Successful projects were selected, in part, because they …

Alcohol and/or drugs may have played a role in a single-vehicle accident last week in Burr Oak Township, according to authorities. State police troopers were called at 11 p.m. Friday to U.S. 12 near St. Joe Road, where a car driven by a 23-year-old Howe woman was involved in an accident. Authorities said the vehicle was being driven eastbound when …

An Illinois woman was injured after the vehicle she was driving was involved in an accident in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the incident occurred at 1 a.m. Sunday on Marcellus Highway near Decatur Road. Investigators said a vehicle driven by 46-year-old Tammy Vrbancic, of Hickory Hills, Ill., was heading east on Marcellus Road when it ran off the road, …

State police are investigating the theft of firearms from three different St. Joseph County locations over the last month. Troopers said shotguns, rifles and handguns were stolen between May 18 and Saturday from residences in the 50000 block of Hutchinson Road in Park Township, the 50000 block of James Drive in Lockport Township and the 13000 block of Millers Mill …

A Dowagiac woman involved in a fatal shooting last year in Flowerfield Township has been sentenced to prison. Kayla Lynn Cheney, 25, was sentenced to a term of between 25 and 75 years for her role in the shooting death of Kevin Johnson on Nov. 18. She was sentenced last week by circuit court judge Paul Stutesman after pleading guilty …

The St. Joseph County Intermediate School District is hosting a career fair later this week. From 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, the ISD will host each of St. Joseph County’s nine school districts at its Shimmel Road location. Details about several career positions will be available, including substitute teaching and bus driving. On-site interviews will take place with participating school …

Two blocks on North Prospect Street in Sturgis were evacuated Thursday following a gas leak. A gas line broke near North Prospect and Ulm streets. Crew members cleaning a storm drain inadvertently caused the break. Around 3 p.m., firefighters evacuated about 13 homes in the 400 and 500 blocks of North Prospect. Authorities said residents were allowed back in the …