News

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses last week and face additional charges of mail theft. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies spotted a vehicle at 3:15 p.m. Saturday parked along Mill Pond Road near Fawn River Road in White Pigeon Township. Investigators said a 23-year-old woman was seen burning mail. Meanwhile, deputies found she and her 24-year-old …

Sturgis city commissioners earlier this month reappointed five members to the city’s Building Authority Board for one-year terms. They are Julie Andrews, Dan Arney, Andy Boyd, Ned Heydlauff and Mike Wilson. In an unrelated matter of business, a report on expanding the city’s fiber optic capabilities resulted in no action. Commissioners, however, expressed an interest in exploring a proposal for …

Members from two area fire departments made Christmas brighter for some Three Rivers and area families last week. Personnel from Three Rivers and Fabius-Park departments Friday delivered gifts to families in the annual “Firefighters for Santa.” Beginning at 3 p.m., firefighters, with the help of Santa, delivered the presents in one- hour blocks. In addition, each of the 90 families …

St. Joseph County Animal Control recently received a new piece of agility equipment. The piece is a ring jump and was provided thanks to the Centreville Courageous K-9s 4- H Club. The ring jump is adjustable, and can be used for small and large dogs. St. Joseph County Animal Control supervisor Greg Musser thanked the club for its generosity and …

A Marcellus man died in a house fire over the holiday weekend. Marcellus firefighters were dispatched to a home on Woodland Street early Sunday afternoon where they found 63-year-old Gordon Booz deceased inside the house. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The November unemployment rate in St. Joseph County remained unchanged compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.9 percent November unemployment rate was equal to October’s figure. November’s unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percent higher than the same month one year earlier, when the …

Cass County sheriff’s officials have submitted to the prosecutor’s office information regarding a man allegedly impersonating a police officer. The agency last week received a tip from a Jones resident aware of a neighbor on Born Street who matched the description of a subject and his vehicle mentioned in a department press release. A deputy responded to the address and …

A former Three Rivers pastor was sentenced last week on charges related to a case of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. James Bailey was sentenced Thursday by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman to nine months in jail and five years of probation. The 66-year-old’s sentence stems from incidents on two dates early this year at Three Rivers Bible Church. Police said …

Members of the White Pigeon Fire Department continued a long-standing tradition last week. The agency has collected food and non-perishable items for local families and arranged a visit from Santa. Their efforts this year benefitted 60 local families. The collection of items was done over the course of several Saturdays, when firefighters could be found outside Wagoner’s market collecting items. …

The St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department was selected as a recipient of a grant in excess of $100,000, issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. County grant writer James Hissong said a $46,300 grant through the MDNR Trust Fund program was confirmed for continued development of the county’s river trail network. In addition, a $62,500 grant through …