News

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday made an exception to its self-imposed hiring freeze and allowed prosecutor John McDonough to pursue employing an assistant prosecutor. McDonough, who is in the midst of completing his 11th year as prosecutor, said funding for the position is in the department’s 2019 fiscal year budget. The department’s prosecutor roster is …

A Cass County K-9 team successfully tracked two men allegedly responsible for breaking into a residence last weekend in Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 5 p.m. Sunday to the 19000 block of Hoffman Road in response to an aggravated-battery incident. Deputies said two subjects entered a residence and got into a physical altercation with the …

A Sturgis man was arrested last week on an undisclosed warrant. According to a Sturgis Police Department media release, the 40-year-old man was seen at 11:35 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of South Centerville Road. Officers noticed he was discarding items from his possession. A search of the area resulted in the discovery of narcotics-related items, police said. The …

Two of St. Joseph County’s nine school districts began classes today. The start of Sturgis Public Schools and Nottawa Community School today comes on the heels of Burr Oak Community Schools commencing its 2019-20 academic year Tuesday. Elsewhere, Centreville, Colon, Constantine, Mendon, Three Rivers and White Pigeon all begin Monday and all have a half day.

Heavy fog was a factor in a two-vehicle accident that left a Mendon man dead Monday morning. State police said Thomas Bell, 60, died after the car he was driving was hit by another vehicle at the intersection of Nottawa and Prairie Corners roads in Mendon Township. Investigators were called to the intersection at 7:30 a.m. Bell was driving eastbound …

A Constantine residence was declared a total loss after it was destroyed by fire early Monday. Chief Mike Haydon said the department was alerted at 4:41 a.m. to a fire in the 100 block of East Third Street. Upon arrival, crews noticed flames coming from the windows and doors on the east side of the structure. The fire, which was …

State police troopers were called over the weekend to a home in Branch County’s Sherwood Township regarding a domestic disturbance Troopers were dispatched Sunday to a residence where they learned the suspect had injured himself and fled on foot. A K-9 unit was summoned and led to the apprehension of the suspect in a nearby field. The suspect was transported …

Here’s the weekly update from Michigan Department of Transportation regarding its work on the U.S. 131 improvement project in Three Rivers. Stage 2 traffic pattern remains in place, as two-way traffic continues in the area of the M-60 junction as well as in the area of Hoffman Road at the north end of the project. Meanwhile, roadbuilding and box-culvert construction …

A Cassopolis woman was injured over the weekend in a traffic accident. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 2:10 p.m. Friday to the intersection of M-152 and North Street in Silver Creek Township. A pickup driven by 55-year-old Deborah Ganser lost control in a curve, left the roadway and struck several trees. Ganser was hospitalized for her injuries.

Organizers of the 32nd annual Mendon Riverfest declared the three-day community celebration a success. Starting with a dozen acts in Thursday’s lip-sync contest and ending with a crowd-pleasing fireworks display Saturday, the 2019 Riverfest featured strong crowds throughout the balance of the day Friday and Saturday. Riverfest chair Spencer Howe said more than 80 teams participated in Friday’s cornhole tournament …