News

The head of Twin County Community Probation Center said an ordinance approved by the Three Rivers City Commission this week features stipulations that will prohibit the center from pursuing a parolee group home on South Main Street. According to the Three Rivers Commercial News, Tom Miles said the ordinance requires 24-hour-a-day staffing and the expense would cost the probation center …

A proposed solar-panel development in Mendon Township took another step forward Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Planning Commission recommended in favor of the concept. Though merely an advisory body, the 11-member planning commission fulfilled its role in the process. With the county’s endorsement, the proposal now heads back to the Mendon Township Planning Commission for what could …

St. Joseph County United Way’s Campaign 2019 set a new record in its 20-year history. For the second consecutive year, the Centreville-based agency exceeded the $1 million threshold. Amid plenty of fanfare at the annual “Celebration Event” at Rouch World, United Way announced the campaign raised $1,058,947. The total surpasses last year’s amount by more than $24,000. This year’s top …

Three Rivers city officials on Tuesday approved a long-discussed ordinance amendment to allow for parolee group housing at a location near downtown. Sought by Twin County Probation Center, the approval means property at 308 S. Main St. will be used to house parolees. City commission members have discussed the issue at length and struggled to find a balance between compassion …

Constantine Public Schools Superintendent Steve Wilson said he received four bids for demolition of the vacated former Canaris Street school and adjacent Constantine Tech High School portable. During a recent board of education meeting, he recommended accepting the low bid of $155,000 from Pitsch Company of Grand Rapids. The majority of the district’s board members voted to accept the bid, …

The South Shore Line is offering a 10 percent discount on monthly passes during the month of March to help make up for four days of suspended service during last week’s bitter cold spell. The commuter rail line says discount pricing will automatically be applied at the time a March pass is purchased. The South Shore Line also is offering …

A man who fatally shot six strangers in southwestern Michigan was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with no chance of parole, and some loved ones of those he killed said they believe he’ll face a greater, more permanent punishment. “Someday when you die and you face God, he will make the ultimate judgment for what you’ve done,” Laurie Smith, …

Authorities say a Michigan man was fatally struck by a car while trying to remove his daughter’s dead cat from a roadway before she saw it. Saginaw County sheriff’s officials say 50-year-old Andrew Rosas of Merrill was struck before sunrise Tuesday by a woman who was driving to work and apparently didn’t see him. Investigators say Rosas was wearing dark …

A LaGrange County man was identified as the driver who led police on a high-speed chase on U.S. 131 Sunday. Aaron Schrock, 23, of Shipshewana was booked into the LaGrange County jail on charges of resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and reckless driving. During the pursuit, Schrock allegedly drove at several oncoming vehicles on State …

Three matters related to tower-space lease were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. County officials first agreed to a five-year contract renewal with White Pigeon Township. The township uses tower space on county-owned communication equipment at the township hall/fire station in what is considered a mutually beneficial agreement. Next, the county OK’d an amendment to its …