News

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 12:40 p.m. Monday to the intersection of M-60 and M-40. Investigators said a car driven by 96-year-old Woody James of Three Rivers was eastbound on M-60 when it failed to stop at the M-40 intersection. His …

A Decatur man was injured in a one-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Pokagon Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sunday to M-51, near Pokagon Street. Investigators said 44-year-old Chad Strehlke was driving north on M-51 and attempted to pass another vehicle. Strehlke, however, lost control of his vehicle and it exited …

Three Rivers police officers last week apprehended a fugitive wanted from the Detroit area. According to a department media release, the Romulus Police Department contacted Three Rivers authorities regarding a 23-year-old man wanted on a number of felonies from Wayne County. Romulus officials indicated they had reason to believe the suspect was in Three Rivers. A search warrant was executed …

Members of the Constantine Village Council have OK’d applications for five commercial medical-marijuana facilities. Approved earlier this month, the medical-marijuana ordinance states the village may assess an annual fee of no more than $5,000 to help defray administrative and enforcement expenses associated with the operation of the facilities. Applications have been accepted for Herbal Advantage Provisioning to establish a provisioning …

The Centreville Village Council last week voted to wait a month before appointing a new member. A board seat has been left vacant with the resignation of Ken Griffith. Three candidates submitted a resident-interest form. They are Brandy Eckert, Harlie Sherman and Thomas Hagerman. Council member Jeff Johnson said all candidates have strong credentials but he moved to  appoint Hagerman. …

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department this week investigated a home explosion in Milton Township, where one person was injured. Police responded to the 33000 block of Bertrand Street around 6 p.m. Tuesday after neighbors reported hearing what sounded like two explosions. Shortly thereafter, the house caught fire and was fully engulfed in flames. Sheriff Richard Behnke said authorities did not know …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced his monthly in-district office hours with local residents, emphasizing the importance of being available to the community. The second-term representative said he enjoys the opportunity to connect with people and hear what matters most to them. Miller will hold office hours 8 to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 24 at Baker’s Rhapsody in Dowagiac, and from …

A Three Rivers-area man, informally known as “The Bicycle Man” died Tuesday after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a pickup Friday evening in Park Township. Bob Kellogg, 53, was commonly seen on the shoulders of U.S. 131, riding his bicycle, and collecting bottles and cans. Stan Brueck, who runs a Free Store in Three Rivers and found …

Members of St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners appear willing to bend their hiring-freeze directive to aid Family Court. During Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, commissioners heard Judge David Tomlinson explain a potential hardship with the impending retirement of Cathy Coleman. Coleman, whose job title is juvenile register, originally had planned to retire March 28 but has moved up the date …

State Rep. Aaron Miller voted for legislation that will eliminate driver responsibility fees, forgive outstanding debt and give people a break when they seek to have driving privileges reinstated. Miller said the fees were initiated nearly 15 years ago by a previous administration that needed an influx of funding to fill a hole in the budget. Since 2003, hundreds of …