News

A Three Rivers man was arrested earlier this week for what authorities said was allegedly his tenth drinking-and-driving violation. State police troopers responded at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. Authorities located the vehicle and driver, and quickly established probable cause that the driver was operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. …

St. Joseph County Conservation District has details about its annual tree sale. The 2023 sale features about two dozen varieties of trees and bushes. The inventory includes pagoda dogwood, red oak, sugar maple, white pine, black walnut and common lilac. Prices and varieties are available on the agency’s website. Pickup date is May 5 and 6 at the St. Joseph …

A Sturgis teen has won the Michigan Community College Athletic Association singles bowling title with a three-game series of 742. Glen Oaks Community College student Ethan Lindsey also claimed the all-events champion with his scores from singles, doubles and team matches. Both scores are MCCAA Championship Tournament records. Lindsey is the first Glen Oaks Early Middle College student to take …

St. Joseph County is contemplating whether to partner with a Coloma-based business for drone services. During Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, commissioners learned Great Lakes Drones Company is offering its services on an as-needed basis for $5,000 a year. Erin Goff, St. Joseph County Emergency Services Director, said drone service could come in handy under a variety of circumstances, including a …

A 47-year-old Vicksburg man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday on child pornography-related charges. Virgil Knowles III was sentenced to 25 years in a federal prison. In addition, Knowles will be subject to 10 years of supervised release. Knowles in October pled guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography. Knowles and his girlfriend, Samantha Batts, …

A suspect behind the shooting death of a Sturgis man back in December was taken into custody Monday, ending a six-week search. The Sturgis Department of Public Safety reported Tuesday that Cameron Hope was taken into custody this week in Gary, Ind., by Indiana State Police on a warrant for the Dec. 29 shooting death of Jeremy Lee Lampeart. Lampeart …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a retail fraud incident that occurred earlier this week at a business in Park Township. Investigators said the crime occurred at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dollar General on U.S. 131, just north of M-216. Troopers are requesting the public’s help in identifying the suspect, described as a heavy-set, black female, approximately 5-foot-8, with …

When the texts began coming in about a shooter at Michigan State University, training that many students started receiving as schoolchildren automatically kicked in. They ran. They found a place to hide. They locked and barricaded the doors. They turned out the lights. Then they waited as a gunman who killed three students and wounded five more eluded police for about four hours. …

St. Joseph County Intermediate School District is interested in law-enforcement services with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The matter was discussed during Tuesday’s executive committee meeting. County commissioners were advised by undersheriff Jason Bingaman that the ISD would like to begin a contract with the agency starting in March. The potential agreement would result in daytime coverage at the …

Three potential appointments are expected to be made by St. Joseph County commissioners next week. During their executive committee meeting Tuesday, commissioners reviewed the possible appointments of Kathy Pangle to the county’s Community Mental Health Board and Roger Gentz to the Agricultural Preservation Board. During their board meeting next week, commissioners are expected to also discuss an appointment to the …