News

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved contract changes to three sheriff’s department divisions. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners agreed to the modifications starting in 2016 and impacting the department’s corrections, law-enforcement and command-officers divisions. Notable changes include a 2 percent raise in 2017 and again in 2018 in all three divisions, and a pension revision affecting employees …

A southwestern Michigan prosecutor says the police shooting of two heavily armed brothers was justified and the officers involved won’t be charged. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting told reporters Friday the six officers were involved in a roughly 20-mile chase of Sean and Aaron Pelletier in May and “were met with defiance.” The Pelletiers were armed in a car and …

Andre Monterio has a fishing story about one that got away and eventually was caught. But what he pulled from Lake Michigan near Grand Haven in September had no scales or gills. It was a small digital camera knocked overboard two years ago from another boat. WZZM-TV reports that Monterio put the camera’s memory card in his computer and saw …

Murder suspect Marie Williams accepted a plea agreement Tuesday, a day after jury selection for her trial had started. Williams, a Burr Oak area resident, pled guilty to second-degree murder before Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. By taking the deal, Williams avoids the chance of being convicted of first-degree murder and receiving a life sentence without parole. Williams was about …

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week voted for a legislative package that blends existing money and new revenue to provide sustainable, long-term funding to repair and maintain Michigan’s roads and bridges. The House, which originally approved the legislation last week, received the amended package from the Senate Wednesday before approving the bill and sending it to the governor. Miller said …

The Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program next week will welcome representatives from National Main Street and Michigan Main Street back to Three Rivers for their annual visit. Every Michigan Main Street program undergoes a yearly evaluation to assess the program’s progress in addressing downtown revitalization issues. Brian Persky, DDA/Main Street executive director, said because all Main Street programs vary considerably …

A 24-year-old Indiana man was arrested in Cass County earlier this week after leading authorities on a pursuit that started in Indiana. State police said they became involved in the incident shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, when the suspect entered Mottville Township then continued into Cass County’s Porter Township. The suspect eventually crashed through a gate, drove onto private property …

A Marcellus man was cited for driving on a suspended license after the vehicle he was driving rolled onto its top last week in Mendon Township. Sheriff’s deputies said Leslie Moreland was driving south on Nottawa Road shortly before 4 p.m. Friday when an eastbound vehicle on Michigan Avenue failed to yield the right of way. Moreland was forced to …

          A musical tribute to the calendar year will be the focus of the 59th annual Mendon Kiwanis Showboat.           The musical and comedy stage show begins the first of its three-day run tonight at Mendon Elementary School. Showtime is 7:30 nightly.           Co-producers Kathy Pendergrass, Donna Dunlap and Rod Wall said the theme “It’s A …

A cat survived being shot with a crossbow and authorities are trying to find the person responsible. Laurie Sullivan tells the Battle Creek Enquirer she found the cat in Battle Creek with a crossbow arrow, known as a bolt, stuck through his neck. Sullivan, a former Battle Creek commissioner, says she was “mortified.” Benjamin Huelsbergen at Turner Veterinary Clinic removed …