News

More than two dozen people attended Monday’s Colon Community Schools Board of Education meeting in search of answers regarding a pair of incidents dating to last school year. The issues center on a 15-year-old student who allegedly inappropriately touched more than one student, including a 6-year-old girl on a school bus last April. In May, the same student – a …

A motor boat crashed into a boat in which two Illinois men were fishing over the weekend in Cass County’s Diamond Lake. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 3:30 p.m. Sunday to the Cassopolis lake. They said 17-year-old Nicholas Peluchiwski of Chicago was driving a boat that was pulling a wake boarder. Deputies said he failed to observe …

Two Sturgis residents were arrested after they were involved in a physical confrontation last week in Sturgis. Officers were called at 5:50 p.m. Friday to North Lakeview Avenue and East Lafayette Street in response to a domestic situation. Officers reported witnessing a 28-year-old man and 25-year-old woman involved in a fight while the woman was holding their 18-month-old son. The …

Two pieces of lawn-care equipment were stolen last week from a Park Township business. Sheriff’s deputies said they were called Friday to Burnips Equipment Company, where two Bush Hog zero-turn mowers were stolen between the close of business Thursday and Friday morning. The business is located on Franklin Drive.

A 28-year-old Indiana man was killed in a one-car crash early Saturday morning, while his 27-year-old passenger from Michigan City, Ind., was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Sheriff deputies said Randall Mantz, from Portage, Ind., was westbound in the 19000 block of M-60 in Lockport Township when his vehicle left the road and struck several trees. Mantz was …

St. Joseph County sheriff ‘ s deputies are investigating a crash that left one person dead late Friday morning in Lockport Township. Deputies said a pickup was traveling east in the 19000 block of M-86 when it left the road, struck a tree and trapped the driver inside. After impact, the vehicle caught fire. Police said bystanders attempted to free the victim. The driver, 35-year-old …

State police last week arrested two people suspected of stealing a car in Sturgis. According to a department media release, authorities were advised at 3 p.m. Friday that a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS was stolen from a residence in Sturgis. Troopers located the parked vehicle on South Nottawa Street near Magnolia Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Friday. A suspect inside the …

Organizers of this year’s 30th Mendon Riverfest said the three-day festival was a success. Following a strong opening night of lip-sync competition Thursday, Riverfest continued with other competitive events. Friday’s cornhole tournament – and a $100 prize – was claimed by Three Rivers’ Gus Alexander and Javed McBride of Mendon. Abby Jones of Mendon won the “Biggest Game Fish” category …

St. Joseph County commissioners this week agreed to make a budget amendment to the county’s Commission On Aging fund balance. The action was requested after COA director Tim Stoll gave a presentation centering on bids for an architect analysis and construction management for the agency’s potential new location at the former Three Rivers Inn. Three companies were considered for project …

Six people were reappointed to the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management Planning Committee. Following action Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Sturgis-area residents John Smits, Frank Kalasky and Mary Conklin-Craaybeek, Glenn Nissley of Burr Oak Township, Mendon Township’s Carol Higgins and Mark Ripplinger of White Pigeon were reappointed to two-year terms. Their terms will now expire …