News

A Constantine man was sentenced last week to federal prison following court proceedings related to child pornography. An investigation headed by Michigan State Police and its Computer Crimes Unit resulted in the arrest of 60-year-old Paul Halcomb. He was charged with distribution of child pornography. Halcomb’s case was prosecuted federally by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Michigan. He …

Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus was given a 3 percent raise following action by the city commission Tuesday. Bippus, who has served as city manager for nearly two decades, was awarded the raise above the 2 percent cost-of-living increase issued annually. His 2018 salary was $116,000. Mayor Tom Lowry cast the lone dissenting vote. Lowry said he is generally …

A segment of alley on the north side of Main Street in Centreville will become one-way, following a decision last month by members of the Centreville Village Council. Traffic between Dean and Nottawa streets will begin to flow west-to-east only. Council members said signage will be posted to clarify the direction. Trustee Gary McClain recommended the change for safety reasons, …

Members of the Sturgis Planning Commission last month approved a special land use for Prism Power Partners to open a solar energy facility near the intersection of South Centerville and Bogen roads. The company intends to perform site preparation by the end of 2019 and be operational in September 2020. According to officials, the “Electric City” solar facility would generate 15 …

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 …