News

A former contract worker for Mendon Community Schools entered a no-contest plea Monday related to a case involving two Mendon High School students. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said 34-year-old Kaitlyn Sand, formerly of Three Rivers but most recently a Sturgis resident, entered the plea to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The proceeding took place as part …

A Marcellus teenager was hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Marcellus Township. Sheriff Clint Roach said deputies were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. Monday to Marcellus Highway and Finch Road in response to a collision. Deputies said a vehicle driven by 17-year-old Landen Bishop, of Marcellus, was headed east on Marcellus Highway. Bishop lost control of …

A Flowerfield Township woman is expected to be named to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. During their monthly executive committee meeting Tuesday, St. Joseph County Board of Commission members agreed to offer the position to Rea Brown. She was one of six people interviewed for the post, which is being vacated by longtime board member and current chairman …

A Three Rivers man will be sentenced in January after a jury last week found him guilty of 10 felony counts. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis said Caron Fuller, 34, was deemed guilty of every offense stemming from a March police pursuit and the subsequent discovery of drugs and illegal weapons. Fuller was arrested March 11, when deputies observed …

The co-founder of a Sturgis-based coffee shop is scheduled to stand trial for alleged criminal sexual conduct of a minor. Authorities said Jared Smith, 49, is charged with two counts of first-degree and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13. Smith is the former CEO of Five Lakes Coffee, which originated in Sturgis in …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency officials have confirmed five cases of chickenpox in youth who live within the three-county jurisdiction. Chickenpox, a highly contagious disease, causes an itchy, blister-like rash, fatigue, headache and fever. The virus spreads from an infected person through airborne particles as well as direct contact. Symptoms typically appear 10 to 21 days after exposure, and individuals …

The engineering firm behind a major public-works project in Constantine was recognized for its role in the process. Fleis & VandenBrink was behind the village’s effort to re-start Constantine’s waste-water treatment plant. The project was honored as “Project of the Year” by Southwest Michigan American Public Works Association. The accolade was bestowed for projects between $5 million and $25 million. …

A 20-year-old Sturgis woman was involved in a two-vehicle, fatal crash last week in LaGrange County’s Newbury Township. According to Indiana State Police, troopers responded at 3 p.m. Tuesday to an area along U.S. 20 near County Road 1000 West. Investigators said a dump truck driven by Gael Reyes was heading east on U.S. 20 when the vehicle drifted onto …

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is issuing its annual, end-of-year appeal in support of the Galesburg-based agency. SWMLC officials said membership from companies and individuals over the past decade has helped secure 20,000 acres of now-conserved prairies, wetlands, forests, dunes and savannas. Recent examples of member-supported achievements include repairs to the crumbling causeway at Portman Nature Preserve in Paw Paw, development …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deb Davis provided more information this week related to the case of a Vicksburg man who faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to operating while intoxicated causing death. Davis issued a media release Wednesday detailing the case of 30-year-old Logan Thomas. Thomas entered a plea in the fatal crash that killed 10-year-old Anthony …