Recent Posts

Sheriff thanks residents

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk offered a round of thanks to residents, road commission employees, E-911 Central Dispatch workers and county employees for their part in the pair of January snowstorms. Addressing the county’s board of commissioners Tuesday, Balk said cooperation from residents who abided by the snow emergency request to stay off the roads allowed road commission workers …

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Out and About – Week of February 4th

Probably the most popular topic of conversation these days is the weather. If you are a regular reader of this column, then you are aware of my dislike of the winter season. I vent regularly about the frequency of snowfalls, but I do realize that Mother Nature couldn’t care less about how I feel about the cards that I’m dealt …

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Firearm malfunctions, injures man

A 33-year-old Constantine man suffered injuries as the result of a firearm malfunction last week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s office said the man was shooting target practice at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the 53000 block of Olney Road in Leonidas Township. A malfunction resulted in injury to his right hand and a wound to his chest. He was treated …

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Tools stolen from shed

A drill, hammer and socket set, and other tools were stolen from a shed in Fabius Township over the weekend. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incident occurred in the 12000 block of Dutch Settlement Road. The victim said the incident took place between 9 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday.

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Bills will be estimated

Officials from the city of Sturgis wish to pass along that due to the recent inclement weather, utility bills will be estimated for the month of January. Bills for water, sewer and electric will be estimated based on past usage. When meters are read this month, the difference between estimated bill and actual usage will be included in the February …

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Fugitive caught in Indiana

Police say a convicted killer who made a brazen escape from a Michigan prison has been captured in Indiana. Indiana State Police Sgt. Ron Galaviz says Michael David Elliot was captured Monday evening in LaPorte County, Indiana. Galaviz says a sheriff’s deputy investigating a vehicle theft spotted the stolen automobile and tried to make a stop. The suspect ran, but …

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Factory fire in Elkhart

A state environmental official says initial tests haven’t found noxious chemicals in the air or water near a northern Indiana fiberglass factory that caught fire over the weekend. Firefighters continued monitoring the smoldering blaze at the Lami-Plast factory in Elkhart on Monday, a day after it went up in flames and some nearby homes were evacuated. A bulldozer was brought …

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New instant game introduced

The Michigan Lottery is launching its first $30 instant game with top prizes of $2 million and more than $80 million in total prizes available for players. Tickets for the $2,000,000 Cash game go on sale Tuesday at Lottery retailers across the state. Each ticket will offer players 30 chances to win. The introduction of the $2,000,000 Cash game reflects …

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Unemployment increased

The December unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one-tenth 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 7.3 percent December unemployment rate was more than November’s 7.2 percent. December’s unemployment rate was three-tenths of a percent less than the same month …

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Man arrested for domestic violence

A 41-year-old man from Niles was arrested last week, following an incident of aggravated domestic violence in Florence Township. State police said the man was involved in an incident with a 47-year-old Three Rivers woman at a residence on Constantine Road. The suspect had fled the scene prior to police arrival, but was located a short distance away. The man, …

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