News

St. Joseph County court officials are expected to resume day-to-day operations today after a pipe-burst incident and flood Thursday. Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said a pipe leading to a boiler burst Thursday morning and flooded the first-floor back entry area, District Court Judge Jeff Middleton’s office and District Court Probation in the courthouse basement. The courthouse opened on a …

A dozen people were recognized by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners earlier this week for milestone years of service. Celebrating a decade of employment were: Teresa Cupp and Erin Goff, both from administration; District Court staff members Daniel Frazine and Kristi Meabon; Melissa Patch, from the county clerk’s office; Stoney Summey, from Veterans Affairs; Parks and Recreation’s Mark Harter; …

A Bronson Township man will serve up to 15 years in prison for a 2025 crash that killed an Indiana resident last summer. St. Joseph Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman last week issued the sentence to Todd Gilbert, 56, for the July 1 traffic-related death of James “Jimbo” Hansen. Gilbert pleaded no contest to operating under the influence of alcohol …

The trial of a 27-year-old suspect in two different criminal sexual conduct cases has been delayed indefinitely. St. Joseph County Circuit Court officials said a Spanish-speaking translator was too ill to participate in last week’s opening of a trial in which Miguel Hernandez-Ruiz is a suspect. Judge Paul Stutesman announced it will be rescheduled. Court officials said Hernandez-Ruiz is facing …

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy officials said the agency’s fall fundraising effort raised more than $900,000. The matching-grant drive started in October and concluded earlier this month. Agency officials said the $916,000 raised includes matching funds and goes a long way toward helping SWMLC meet its goals for the year. Memberships and ongoing gifts throughout 2026 fund the daily stewardship, land …

The city of Bronson is to receive nearly $2 million in federal funding to help offset the cost of upgrading its wastewater-treatment facility. Municipal officials said the investment will address infrastructure improvements at the facility, which has long been identified by the city council as a critical need. Mayor Bill Rinehart said the city would otherwise have been forced to …

Vicksburg Village Manager Jim Mallery has announced he intends to retire at the end of 2026. While some municipal leaders might have suspected this would be Mallery’s last year, his intentions were made official during an optimistic and emotional, seven-minute speech at the council’s Jan. 5 meeting. Reading from a prepared statement, Mallery touched on a number of key issues …

White Pigeon Community Schools leaders opted to close school Friday last week following a threat posted on the school’s website. Superintendent Shelly McBride said school administration collaborated with local law enforcement and state police to investigate the threat. She said the investigation was concluded by midday Friday. By coincidence, the district was closed Monday due to inclement weather.

A 20-year-old Constantine woman died in a weather-related crash last week in Fabius Township. The victim was identified at Brianne Anthony. According to a St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department media release, deputies were dispatched Wednesday evening to an area of Constantine Road at the St. Joseph River bridge in response to a two-vehicle crash. Investigators said the victim was driving …

Slippery roads and speed too fast for conditions may have been factors in a two-vehicle, fatal crash last week in Sherman Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday to an area of Featherstone Road, near Taylor Road, following a report of a two-car crash. Authorities said the victim, Angela Phillips, age …