News

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Three people, including a 2-year-old child, were treated for potential hypothermia after the vehicle they were in left the roadway and ended up in the Portage River. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies were called Thursday morning to the area of Haines Road and South Fisher Lake Road in Lockport Township. Investigators said the three were in a vehicle heading west …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department wishes to make residents aware of a telephone scam related to threats of electric shut-off. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the scam is done through a telephone call, in which the caller threatens to discontinue electric service unless an immediate payment is made. Bingaman said anyone receiving a call from someone claiming to be with …

An Indiana man died earlier this week in a fire at his Shipshewana residence. LaGrange County officials said 54-year-old Darin Smith was unable to escape the Monday morning blaze. Around 7 a.m. Monday, officers investigated the fire, which had started on the lower level toward the back of the house. Two males were inside the home at the time and …

Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education is looking to add a new member as Ben Karle has stepped down from the seven-member panel. Karle, who was elected to the board in November 2020, said he has accepted an offer from St. Joseph County Intermediate School District. Applications for the position are due by 3 p.m. Jan. 26. A special …