News

Teresa Doehring is wrapping up her first full year as county administrator and by all indications, the five-member board of commissioners is pleased with her effort. The 44-year-old Doehring received a contract renewal and a 2 percent raise in the capacity of the county’s highest, non-elected position. Both matters were approved unanimously by county commissioners last week. A lifelong Mendon-area …

Investigators said wood-burning stoves are believed to be the source of two fires Saturday in St. Joseph County. On Saturday afternoon, firefighters were called to 70861 Sevison Road in White Pigeon Township after a report of a pole barn on fire. Authorities were told a family member could see the corner of the structure near a wood burner that was …

Centreville Public Schools and a number of its volunteers were successful in a recent attempt to “Stuff the Bus.” High school principal Chad Brady said the effort was co-organized by the high school’s Future Farmers of America students and its National Honor Society members. Brady and Centreville Elementary Principal Mark VanderKlok joined students and parent volunteers during the Dec. 8 …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District recently awarded a pair of prizes it offered during fair week. Agency director Carolyn Grace said names were collected through the week, with two drawn at the conclusion of the annual event. Katie Walters of Sturgis won a composter, an item donated by the St. Joseph County Conservation District. Meanwhile, Three Rivers resident Randy …

A Mendon man was sentenced last week after he was arrested on a charge of crop insurance fraud. Doug Diekman, 55, was sentenced Thursday to 13 months in prison and ordered to reimburse nearly $500,000. He had pled guilty to attempting to defraud a federal crop-insurance program after obtaining an insurance payout for about 1,000 acres of land he rented …

Indiana authorities said a Three Rivers man was at fault in a two-vehicle accident in LaGrange County last week. Sheriff’s officials were called the evening of Dec. 17 to County Road 700 South, where 27-year-old Christopher Kilgore was driving a farm truck. Kilgore told investigators his foot slipped off the truck’s gas pedal and wedged under the brake pedal. As …

Seventeen homeowners entered Constantine’s annual Christmas lights contest. After judging early last week, Kevin and Lori Brouse, of 14609 Millers Mill Road, won the $500 first-place prize and a Christmas tree trophy. Second place went Brian Maxwell, 130 Jeremy St., $300; third to Bill and Connie McDaniel, 62519 Brick Chapel Rd., $200; fourth to Glenn and Dinah Greene, 315 Station …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority has announced it will once again offer the Free Ride Home courtesy shuttle service New Year’s Eve. The service will start at 10 p.m. Monday and conclude at 4 a.m. Jan. 1. Rides will be limited to and from locations within St. Joseph County. Event organizers said rides will be given only to a …

Authorities have identified a 24-year-old western Michigan man killed in what was believed to be a crash involving a deer. The Allegan County sheriff’s office says Monday that the body of Roky Vasquez-Vasquez was found about 8:50 a.m. Friday on the shoulder of U.S. 131 near Wayland, south of Grand Rapids. About three hours earlier, a motorist reported striking a …

Colon Police Chief Mark Brinkert said a student walking to school last week was approached by a stranger. The incident occurred at 7:20 a.m. Friday near the intersection of Dallas and East State streets, where the student was walking to school. Brinkert said a dark-green vehicle – possibly a Mini Cooper – with tinted windows stopped and the driver said …