News

Jury selection is set to begin today in St. Joseph County Circuit Court for the trial of Marie Audrey-Louise Williams. Williams is accused of shooting Dennis Brooks in the head as the two argued on Townline Road in Burr Oak Township in March 2014. Williams was arrested after telling police she shot Brooks. She has been held in the St. …

At its October meeting, Three Rivers Health Board of Trustees reported preparation of the 2016 operating and capital budgets have begun. Also, the finalized 2016 operating plan was presented for review in the format of the Studer Groups Leadership Evaluation Manager. Once reviewed and approved, these LEMS will be used for the leader’s performance evaluations at the end of 2016. …

Trick-or-treat hours for Halloween Saturday night vary from community to community. In Three Rivers, hours are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In addition, the annual Halloweenie Roast will begin at 5 p.m. and continue while supplies last. The Three Rivers Moose Lodge will host a trunk or treat 4 to 7 p.m. The village of Centreville has trick-or-treat hours 5 to …

Patrol officers with the Sturgis Police Department will be outfitted with body-camera technology in the next two to three weeks. Sturgis city commissioners this week approved a five-year contract to purchase the hardware and data storage. Geoffrey Smith, director of public safety for the city of Sturgis, recommended the no-bid purchase, saying Arizona-based Taser International is the only firm that …

The city of Three Rivers last week made official its acquisition of a downtown building given as a gift. Tom Meyer, of Meyer Ventures, offered the former Whitehouse Manufacturing building, as the city is studying the idea of relocating the Three Rivers Public Library to the downtown location. Meyer also deeded the city a six-acre parcel that borders the Rocky …

In partnership with the American Red Cross, Three Rivers Health will hold a blood drive Thursday, November 5, 1:30 to 7:15 p.m. in the Three Rivers Health Cafeteria, 701 S. Health Parkway, Three Rivers, Mich. The public is invited to join Three Rivers Health employees and volunteers in donating blood at the event. To schedule an appointment, log onto redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: 3rivers) …

Sturgis Township next year may become home to a commercial poultry operation that eventually could raise more than 1.6 million chickens annually. Gregg Stevens, of Deer Creek Farms Inc., told the Sturgis Township Planning Commission this week that the operation is seeking state agriculture permits for up to six, 600-by-60 foot poultry-raising barns on land near Olnhausen Road, between Shimmel …

Sixteen St. Joseph County restaurants were paid more than $193,000 last fiscal year for nearly 30,000 meals they served to senior citizens participating in a Commission on Aging-sponsored nutrition program. The restaurant program served nearly 1,800 clients last fiscal year and is one part of the COA’s efforts to offer nutrition services to St. Joseph County’s 60-and older population. The …

A commercial mower was reported stolen from a Park Township business. The report was filed Wednesday by representatives from GreenMark Equipment, but it is believed the John Deere zero-turn mower with a 48-inch deck was likely taken during Fair Week last month.

A decision by the Sturgis Planning Commission will allow various types of fencing in the downtown central business district designed to accommodate some new commercial uses. City officials last week said outdoor eating areas, mainly at locations that serve alcohol, must have perimeter fencing to cordon them from general pedestrian traffic. Some commercial fencing also is expected in the area …