News

A “St. Joseph County Cares” fundraiser will take place Friday and involves a partnership between the Sturgis Media Group and St. Joseph County United Way. All proceeds from the event will go directly to a Family Catastrophic Fund set up through the United Way for flood-stricken residents in Houston. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, donations will be collected and …

A White Pigeon man died over the weekend when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a sport-utility vehicle in Elkhart County. Indiana authorities said Austin Hersha, 29, was driving a 2003 Harley Davidson at 9:30 p.m. Sunday northbound on County Road 23 near the intersection of County Road 104. Elkhart County Sheriff’s officials said the motorcycle collided with a …

St. Joseph County’s decision to seek the validity of a contract with the city of Three Rivers was roundly applauded during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. The praise came on the heels of the county’s decision last week to file a complaint for declaratory judgment against the city of Three Rivers. The issue centers on a 17-field sports complex proposed to …

A traffic stop in Schoolcraft last week netted the arrests of two people suspected of stealing merchandise from the Three Rivers Walmart. Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell said an officer initiated a traffic stop at 7 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 131, just south of the village limits, after it was observed having improper plates. Two occupants were found to have …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called last week to a report of a home invasion in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, deputies were called Friday to the 11000 block of Riverside Drive, where a resident entered the house shortly after 4 p.m. and found a man inside a bedroom. The intruder fled the residence westbound …

Authorities have positively identified all five Kalamazoo teenagers killed when the speeding car they were in burst into flames after slamming into a tree. The Kalamazoo County sheriff’s office says that the victims were 15-year-old Marshawn Williams and Jaquarius Hegler, 16-year-old Elexus Hillsman and Cortavian Murphy, and 17-year-old Deztanee Cobb. Cobb and Williams were identified earlier. The teens were in …

The youngest survivor of an Uber driver’s alleged shooting rampage in Kalamazoo, is returning to school part time. The mother of 15-year-old Abigail Kopf tells WOOD-TV her daughter will attend Harper Creek High School in Battle Creek for two to three hours a day, possibly five days a week. Abigail was in seventh grade when Uber driver Jason Dalton allegedly …

A residence was destroyed by fire late Sunday afternoon in Constantine Township. Its occupants were not home at the time of the blaze, which was reported at 5:15 p.m. and took place in the 15300 block of Featherstone Road. Authorities were notified after family members of the home’s occupants, and who live by the house, saw smoke. The home is …

A 2-year-old Indiana girl died over the weekend after she was struck by a car at a relative’s house in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the incident occurred at 7 p.m. Sunday in the 20000 block of Old 205. Witnesses told deputies that the family was having a birthday party at the residence. A family member was …

Last week’s annual Youth for Christ fundraising auction drew hundreds of bidders to at least a thousand items — all donated by local businesses and individuals. This year, the auction surpassed YFC’s goal coming in at more than $40,000 in proceeds. Ken Mills, executive director of YFC/Campus Life Southwest Michigan, said it was the second-highest auction in 20 years. The …