News

Two people found in a car in a creek in southwestern Michigan died from drowning. The autopsy result was announced Monday, a day after the car was found upside down in Brandywine Creek in Niles. The victims were Autumn Mehl and Steven Rough, who were last seen leaving a bar early Saturday. The road above the creek was snow-covered and …

A 15-year public servant has announced his candidacy for the Fabius Township Board of Trustees. Lucas Allen issued a press release stating his intention to run for trustee after learning current township trustee Dave Brueck and clerk Kathy McDonough are not seeking re-election. Allen said if elected, he will strive to not only fill the role of trustee in a …

An Adrian native with a Mendon connection will be the recipient of a Purple Heart medal and other honors to be presented this week by Congressman Fred Upton. World War II veteran and Portage resident John Butler, 89, will be at the center of the event at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Room of the Centre Meadows Apartments in …

Three Rivers High School will host an important meeting this week for current eighth-grade students and their parents. High school staff on Tuesday will provide information on the Michigan Merit Curriculum and 9th grade scheduling options. Principal Carrie Balk said students with last names beginning with the letters A through H will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. …

A man faces charges in the deaths of a woman and her son in an icy, chain-reaction crash last month on I-94 in southwestern Michigan. Carol and Andrew Griesemer died in the pileup in Van Buren County. The crashes on Jan. 17 spread to more than 40 cars and trucks. Timothy Martinez, a 40-year-old from the Grand Rapids area, appeared …

Bitterly cold weather has made its way into Michigan and wintry conditions are creating hazardous driving conditions in parts of the state. The National Weather Service issued wind chill advisories into the weekend, with temperatures forecast to drop below zero at times. The Van Buren County sheriff’s department reports numerous crashes Friday along a stretch of I-94 in southwestern Michigan. …

The first person to publicly announce his candidacy for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is a longtime Centreville resident and public official. Dennis Allen said he will seek the Third District seat currently held by 20-year board member and Fishers Lake resident Rick Shaffer. Shaffer has already stated he will not seek re-election for an additional two-year term. …

A courthouse addition for the county courts departments was identified as the No. 1 priority based on an informal poll during this week’s county commissioner workshop. The five-member panel over the course of an hour Tuesday revisited a number of projects either in progress or on the drawing board. Among the projects in either the planning or discussion stages, however, …

The Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, where a pair of exotic animals removed last month from a Mottville Township residence is receiving medical treatment, has provided an update on the condition of the animals it took in. A monkey is in quarantine. At the time of its removal, it weighed less than 10 pounds, was emaciated and dehydrated, and deprived of …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has fielded a number of reports from residents complaining of telephone calls claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. Sheriff Balk said the IRS does not conduct business by telephone. He encourages people to do the following if they receive such phone calls: Record the employee’s name, return-call number and caller ID if …