Man robbed and tortured

For the second time in less than 10 days, a 75-year-old Constantine man was forcibly restrained while his residence was burglarized.

Constantine Police Chief Jim Bedell said three men in the early morning hours of May 6 forced their way into a residence in the Whispering Pines neighborhood and tortured the man with second-degree burns on his legs and back. The suspects demanded to know the location of valuables inside his residence.

Two suspects had duct-taped the man to a chair April 28 and stolen a significant amount of cash and old coins, Bedell said.

In both cases, the suspects wore masks, gloves and had displayed handguns.

Man not injured after crash

An 80-year-old Three Rivers man was not injured after the vehicle he was driving ended up in a creek Wednesday in Fabius Township

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Fred Soukup was driving west on Coon Hollow Road when he lost control of his vehicle around 5:30 p.m. and went off the roadway near Ferguson Road.

Deputies said Soukup’s vehicle overturned and landed on the driver’s side. Soukup was able to exit the vehicle with the aid of passing motorists. He was cited for failure to use due care and caution.

Wash after handling live baby chicks

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency this week received reports of salmonella cases possibly linked to the handling of live baby chicks.

The Coldwater-based agency said the situation should serve as a reminder that people who touch ducklings or chicks should wash your hands immediately afterward.

Agency officials said live baby poultry may be put on display at stores where children are able to touch the birds. Antibacterial sanitizer or soap are the most effective measures of not picking up salmonella from such sources, agency officials said.

Brush pick-up in Sturgis

The city of Sturgis is continuing its brush pick-up through the end of the week.

Department of Public Services crews started the process Monday from the north side of the city and are making their way to the south end.

City officials ask that materials be neatly stacked on the terrace area, away from objects or obstructions such as power poles, guy wires, sign posts or valve boxes. Also, limbs, branches or brush material longer than eight feet will not be collected.

Grass clippings, roots, thorn-bearing branches, tree trunks, stumps or construction materials will not be collected.

Injuries following one-car crash

A 65-year-old Kalamazoo woman was treated for injuries she suffered last week following a one-car crash in Flowerfield Township.

Officials from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Donna Rees was driving west on M-216 when she said she swerved to avoid striking a small animal and drove off the roadway east of Bent Road.

Witnesses told investigators they observed her speeding and driving erratically prior to the rollover accident.

Rees was cited for failure to drive with due care, police said.

Motorcyclists injured

A motorcyclist and passenger participating in a memorial ride were injured after they were thrown from their cycle over the weekend in Mottville Township.

State Police personnel said White Pigeon residents Darrell Niles, 49, and Annette Rink, 47, were injured after the motorcycle they were riding slid on loose gravel and overturned. The incident occurred at noon Sunday at Riverside Drive and Vistula Road.

Neither Niles nor Rink was wearing helmets. Investigators said it doesn’t appear alcohol was a factor in the incident.

They were a part of a 62-member motorcycle team.

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