News

A Cassopolis man died Monday when he fell out of a boat on Shavehead Lake southwest of Jones. The victim was identified as 71-year-old Larry Malsch. Malsch, along with Christopher Habic, 56, of Cassopolis, were sinking Christmas trees into the lake to enhance fish habitat. Habic, who was on shore, attempted to use another watercraft to reach Malsch, but he …

A Marcellus gas station was robbed last week. Cass County Sheriff’s officials said the incident occurred at 10:40 p.m. Thursday at Yummie’s Marathon. Investigators said a white man with a bandana covering his face entered the store and displayed a semi-automatic handgun. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect left the scene. A tracking dog from the Van …

Last week’s New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home program drew fewer passengers than it did one year earlier. Despite the decrease from 35 a year ago to 26 this year, St. Joseph County Transportation Authority officials are calling the 2014-15 event a success. Marci Goodman, operations manager of the Three Rivers-based agency, said Free Ride Home would be a success …

One person was injured in a single-vehicle crash last week in Constantine Township. State police were called shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday to the 11000 block of Millers Mill Road. Upon further investigation, troopers found that the driver was westbound on Millers Mill when his vehicle crossed both lanes of traffic and rolled down an embankment. The driver freed himself …

Authorities say a southern Michigan man was killed when a limb from a tree he was helping to cut down fell on him. The Branch County sheriff’s department says the accident happened about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Butler Township, east of Coldwater. The Hillsdale Daily News says the department identifies the victim as 39-year-old Shane A. Connin, who lived in …

Gasoline just keeps getting cheaper in Michigan, where the average pump price dropped Thursday to $1.97 a gallon — the lowest since March 2009. Prices on New Year’s Day 2015 were down 13 cents in the past seven days, AAA Michigan said. Gas was 42 percent cheaper than it was one year ago, when the average price per gallon was …

A trio of community-visioning workshops are planned to help determine the future of Three Rivers. Community visioning is a planning tool that enables residents, business owners and local institutions to have a voice in the decision-making process of their community. The workshops have been planned to gather information from residents about what they like about Three Rivers and what they …

A ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for two state legislators will take place later this month in Centreville. The event will feature State Sen. John Proos and State Rep. Aaron Miller, as they began their terms Wednesday. Proos, a Berrien County resident, was re-elected to a four-year term in November, while Miller, who lives in Sherman Township, started a two-year stint replacing …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched Tuesday to a Nottawa Township business regarding a theft report. Upon arrival, deputies learned a log splitter was stolen from Nottawa Lumber. According to a department media release, the item in question was a blue, Iron and Oak brand log splitter. The splitter features a red, 13 horse power Honda …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency has issued a media release regarding January as Radon Action Month. Radon is an odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that naturally occurs in soil and rock. The agency wishes to remind residents that January is a good month to test for Radon. Radon typically travels into the atmosphere and causes no damage. Sometimes, however, it gets …