News

Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants of $10,000 or less to shelters and other organizations that work to prevent cruelty to animals.  The agency will allocate $175,000 for the purpose next year and is accepting proposals through Nov. 10.  Registered animal control and animal protection shelters can apply for funds to help increase the adoption rate …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested a wanted fugitive and served a search warrant last week. SCAN officials had received information about an absconder from a federal drug case that originated this summer in St. Joseph County involving methamphetamine trafficking. Officers on Thursday set up surveillance at U.S. 12 and Oak Drive in White Pigeon Township …

Four of the nine school districts in St. Joseph County saw an increase in student enrollment this fall compared to a year ago. The unofficial headcount conducted two weeks ago showed Centreville, Sturgis, Three Rivers and White Pigeon all had gains in their enrollment. White Pigeon Community Schools led the way with 35 additional students for an enrollment of 792. …

Two vacant positions with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department will be filled, as the county’s board of commissioners earlier this month approved staffing the posts. One road-patrol position and a full-time job in corrections will be filled once viable candidates are found. Resignations in both cases created the openings. In other personnel matters last week, the commission hired Catherine …

Organizers behind Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste, televisions and computers, tires and paper said the amount collected exceeded the fall 2013 event. Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said preliminary figures show two semi trailers were filled with televisions and computers, 12,600 pounds of hazardous waste was collected, 635 tires were turned in and …

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Coldwater Post stopped a passenger vehicle on Hodunk Road near Barnhart Road in Branch County. The 30-year-old driver and a 48-year-old passenger, both of Quincy, were found to be in possession of several ounces of marijuana and components used to manufacture methamphetamine. The suspects were arrested on several felony charges. A further investigation led …

Two Three Rivers police officers may face criminal charges after an alleged domestic dispute that occurred last month in Lockport Township. The alleged incident is being investigated by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said his office turned reports over to the Michigan Attorney General’s office, which will appoint a prosecutor to determine if …

A 19-year-old Sturgis-area man was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital Wednesday following a one-car crash. Police said Adam Bontrager was driving west on Lafayette street around 2 p.m. when the car he was driving left the road and struck a tree. Witnesses told police that Brontrager was driving at a high rate of speed. The vehicle left the road near …

Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes said he has withdrawn his candidacy for the position of city manager of Portage. The 40-year-old Hughes was one of three finalists chosen last month from a pool of five candidates for the Portage job. After further consideration, Hughes said he and his family have decided they would prefer to stay in Sturgis. Hughes, who …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority saw a 1-percent decrease in its ridership numbers in its 2013-14 fiscal year compared to the previous 12-month period. CTA executive director Steve Yorks said the agency’s fiscal year ended Sept. 30. It provided 96,042 rides for the period, down 739 rides from the 2012-13 fiscal year. Yorks said despite the reduction, the CTA …