News

Winning scratch-off ticket sold in Constantine

A St. Joseph County man won the top prize from a Michigan State Lottery scratch-off ticket. Lottery officials said the 77-year-old man purchased the $5 ticket earlier this month at Jit Food and Gas on North Washington Street in Constantine. The scratch-off game, Winter Ice, yielded a prize of $500,000. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, told lottery officials …

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Shooting incident in Marcellus

A dispute between two roommates led to a shooting incident over the weekend in the village of Marcellus. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were notified around 7:30 p.m. Saturday of a situation involving a firearm at a residence in the 200 block of East North Street. Investigators said two roommates were involved in a verbal argument, when one …

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Man injured in Calhoun County crash

Speed is believed to be a factor in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend in Calhoun County’s Athens Township. Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched Saturday to the intersection of M-66 and O Drive South for a crash with injuries. According to witnesses, the driver of the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed in the northbound lane …

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A house fire in South Bend has killed 5 children and injured another

Fire tore through a house in South Bend, killing five children and leaving a sixth in treatment Monday for burns. People, including children, were trapped by flames on the second floor Sunday evening, the South Bend Fire Department said. Five children were pronounced dead. The sixth was taken to a hospital and later airlifted to one in Indianapolis. An adult …

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County commission approves parks and rec strategic plan

St. Joseph County officials last week approved a strategic plan for a high-profile department. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year plan. The matter was first addressed during the commission’s executive committee meeting Jan. 9. Parks and Recreation Department director Jaymes MacDonald said completing the process took most of 2023 and included a resident survey, …

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Boil-water advisory in effect for part of Constantine

The Constantine Department of Public Works has repaired a water-main break that occurred last week in its downtown district. Village Manager Mark Honeysett said crews were dispatched before dawn Friday. Water service was shut off for a period during the day Friday while the matter was addressed. Though service is now restored, Honeysett said residents north of Water Street are …

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Warrant leads to arrests

Two suspects – a 43-year-old man from Colon and a 44-year-old Mendon woman – face felony charges following their arrest last week. According to Michigan State Police troopers, during the course of an investigation related to a Branch County theft, a search warrant was secured for a residence in the 700 block of East State Street in Colon. The warrant …

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County commission makes re-appointments

St. Joseph County commissioners took care of a few small maters during their monthly meeting last week. First, its members re-appointed Robert Horton and Gerald Loudenslager to the county’s Board of Public Works. Meanwhile, Kathleen Carr was appointed to the county’s Building Authority Board. Also, undersheriff Jason Bingaman introduced himself as a candidate for sheriff and provided a lengthy background …

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Water main break repaired in Constantine

Water service was restored in Constantine late Friday afternoon, to an area of the village north of Water Street, affected by a water main break.  A “boil water advisory” is in effect for residents north of Water Street.

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Fatal toll road crash

Indiana State Police troopers are looking into a crash that led to the death Thursday of a tow-truck driver from Sturgis. Investigators said crews were cleaning up a diesel spill and removing a semi-truck from the center median that had crashed Thursday on the Indiana Toll Road in LaGrange County. A 2021 Dodge Ram towing an enclosed trailer and heading …

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