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The Cass County sheriff’s department handled an accidental death Tuesday on White Temple Road in Penn Township. Authorities said Robert Wright, 73, of Vandalia, was struck by two trees while he was cutting wood. An investigation revealed Wright was cutting a tree that fell into another tree, which uprooted itself. The two trees fell on Wright. Emergency personnel extracted Wright …

A grant application for St. Joseph County’s Community Corrections was approved by commissioners Tuesday. The grant seeks nearly $175,000 from the Michigan Department of Corrections. According to Erin Goff, community corrections coordinator, the funding would be put in the agency’s 2019 budget and go toward programs that serve as alternatives to incarceration. Goff said the request is a renewal and …

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies were called earlier this week to a one-vehicle accident in Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. Monday on Chapel Hill Street near Union Road. Upon arrival, deputies found 25-year-old Kaylee Rohlfs had lost control of her westbound vehicle on Chapel Hill Street and it struck an embankment. She was …

St. Joseph County commissioners have approved a request to fill vacant hours in the Animal Control Department. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said the department recently had a support assistant resign, leaving a void of 29 hours a week. Lillywhite asked if 11 of those 29 hours could be reassigned to another part-time assistant position, which would make it a full-time job. …

I am just so cute.  They call me “Dodger”.  Did I tell you I was cute?  I am a 13 lb., male, chihuahua mix, with brindle tri-color markings.  I will need my neuter surgery.  I am housebroke, leash and crate trained.  I do not get along with cats and I only will like kids older than 10.  I am a …

A Dowagiac man died in a motorcycle accident earlier this week in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 5:30 a.m. Monday to Calvin Hill Street near North Shore Drive. An initial investigation shows a truck was turning out of a driveway to go west on Calvin Hill Street when it was struck by an eastbound …

In a field crowded with worthy nominees, Kelli Lusk stood slightly above all others as the recipient of this year’s, “Jeanette Schirs Recognition of Kindness to Animals” award. Bestowed by the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County, the award was presented to the 31-year-old Sturgis-area resident during the organization’s annual mostaccioli dinner and live auction fundraiser Saturday at Three …

Cases of chlamydia and other sexually-transmitted diseases are rising in the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph County area, according to 2016 data. Lauren Vogel, medical officer at the tri-county agency, said HPV exposure remains the most common sexually transmitted infections, with chlamydia being the most frequently reported disease. Vogel during last week’s department board meeting, said St. Joseph County showed 207 cases reported in 2016 …

A Grand Rapids-area native currently working in Lelenau County has been selected as the new superintendent of St. Joseph County’s second-largest school district. Ron Moag was chosen Monday by Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education. After four candidates were interviewed in the past month, board members narrowed the list to Moag and Jonathan Whan. Moag, who grew up in …

A reckless driver who was on drugs when his pickup truck crashed into a pack of bicyclists, killing five, was convicted of second-degree murder Tuesday in southwestern Michigan. Charles Pickett’s trial lasted just a few days in Kalamazoo County. There was no dispute that he had swallowed painkillers and other drugs before driving, although his lawyers argued that murder charges …