News

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by six-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 4.6 percent October unemployment rate was less than September’s 5.2 percent. October’s unemployment rate was 2.6 percent less than the same month one year earlier, …

Two Cass County men were arrested on drug-related offenses last week in Volinia Township. Members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team were called to assist parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections. At 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, they assembled outside a residence in the 16000 block of Dutch Settlement Road. Detectives located methamphetamine components, meth paraphernalia, marijuana and firearms …

Three people were injured following an accident Friday night at the intersection of M-60 and U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. State police said a semi heading south on U.S. 131 struck an eastbound vehicle on M-60 that drove onto U.S. 131 and into the path of the truck around 11 p.m. The driver of the car, 57-year-old Mark Thompson of …

A 44-year-old man faces a hearing on charges that he stabbed three fellow Amtrak train passengers and a conductor in southwestern Michigan.  Michael Williams of Saginaw is to appear Monday in court on attempted murder charges.  Police used a Taser to subdue Williams Friday night as the train was stopped at a depot in Niles, about 10 miles north of …

A man accused of stabbing a conductor and three passengers on an Amtrak train in southwestern Michigan before officers subdued him has been charged with four counts of attempted murder, police said Saturday. Police identified the suspect in Friday night’s attack as Michael Williams, 44, of Saginaw. He was being held Saturday at the Berrien County jail and his initial …

Barring any major modifications in the next week and a half, St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners is expected to approve a 2015 fiscal year budget of almost $16.5 million. The proposed budget is 11.6 percent less than the 2014 budget, which is about $18.6 million. Finance director Joni Smith said three requests were made for new personnel in 2015, …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit, along with deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant Thursday in the 25000 block of U.S. 12 in White Pigeon Township. Methamphetamine and components used in the manufacturing of meth were located throughout the interior of the residence. According to a department media release, a number …

Tree-lighting ceremonies and a holiday parade will take place this weekend in three different St. Joseph County communities. Officials from Colon Area Chamber of Commerce are staging the ninth annual “Christmas in Colon” from 5 to 8 tonight. A parade from Colon Elementary to Colon Community Park starts at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, the “Christmas in Constantine” celebration continues with its …

The Three Rivers Waste Water Treatment Plant has reported a foam-over event that occurred earlier this week. According to a department media release, the incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Plant officials immediately shut down the foam-generating equipment to halt the foam-over event. From the 200,000 gallons of biosolids within the tank, approximately 600 gallons of foam escaped from the …

Two Sturgis residents were airlifted to Bronson Hospital following a two-vehicle collision Tuesday morning in the village of Centreville. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said a vehicle driven by a 31-year-old Sturgis man was westbound on East Main Street when his vehicle crossed the centerline and into the path of an eastbound garbage truck at Industrial Drive. The incident …