News

SERVPRO of Cass & St. Joseph Counties received the MILLIONAIRE’S Gold award at SERVPRO’s recent 50th Annual Convention. The event, themed “Making History,” was held from June 24-28 at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, California, where the company was founded. “It is always gratifying to earn a distinction for our business,” said Anthony Blodgett, SERVPRO of Cass & St. …

Nearly three weeks after discussion during their executive committee meeting, St. Joseph County commissioners on Tuesday approved the hiring of two new sheriff’s department deputies. The request came from Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, who was seeking an exception to the county’s hiring freeze in order to fill two spots created by a pair of resignations. The positions were previously held by …

Two children were treated for minor injuries after the car they were in was involved in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 4 p.m. to the intersection of Gards Prairie Road and Quaker Street in response to a personal-injury accident. Investigators said 26-year-old Schoolcraft resident Johannes Erasmus was …

Cass County deputies have arrested a man who allegedly phoned in a bomb threat to the county courthouse last month. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the original incident occurred the morning of June 21, when a call was placed to the county’s central dispatch center. The caller indicated there was a bomb inside the courthouse. The building was evacuated and a …

Sheriff’s deputies were called last week to Colon Township in response to the theft of a watercraft. The incident occurred between July 4 and this past Saturday at a residence in the 60000 block of Custer Valley Road. The victims told police a tan and pink Water Wheeler pedal boat was taken from the yard of its owner.

Members of Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education have approved the sale of the former Arden Park School building, located at 209 Ilene St. Superintendent Art Ebert said the district had a $325,000 cash offer on the property that officials had tentatively agreed to, pending board approval. Ebert said it’s his understanding the 63-year-old building will be renovated and used …

An Indiana man who led sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase over the weekend faces several felony charges. According to a media release from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a citizen’s call to Central Dispatch regarding a reckless driver shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday on eastbound U.S. 12 near Balk Road in Sturgis Township. The driver, …

State regulators are continuing a ban on baiting and feeding deer in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula in an effort to prevent spread of chronic wasting disease. The ban was among rules for this year’s hunting season adopted by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission last week. The panel decided to allow baiting and feeding in the Upper Peninsula, except in an area …

Here’s the latest information regarding Michigan Department of Transportation’s reconstruction project of U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. Stage 2 traffic pattern remains in place, meaning two-way traffic follows the southbound U.S. 131 lane in areas around the M-60 intersection at the south end as well as at the Hoffman Street intersection at the north end. A new deck was poured …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education last week approved contracts for the district’s aides, administrative assistants and custodial staff. Each two-year contract calls for a 1 percent increase and a step the first year, and a 2 percent increase and a step the second year. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer noted that the administrative assistants had requested to move away from collective …