News

St. Joseph County road commissioners last week approved the purchase of two new Peterbilt asphalt distributors, according to agency manager Chris Minger. Minger said the road commission’s garage workers will be able to convert the vehicles into trucks to be used for snowplowing. Cost for the two trucks, two tar tanks, underbody scrapers, wing plows and underbody hydraulics is about $638,000. …

The first of St. Joseph County’s nine school districts returned to school Tuesday, while four others will begin classes Monday. Burr Oak Community Schools started its academic year Tuesday to stay consistent with the calendar followed by the Branch Area Careers Center. Meanwhile, students in Colon, Constantine, Mendon and White Pigeon will head back to classrooms Monday next week. The …

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 …