News

A suspect in a police pursuit was taken into custody last week in Cass County’s Howard Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted at 2:30 p.m. Friday to a fleeing vehicle heading north from Indiana into Cass County. The suspect allegedly stole a Mishawaka Police Department vehicle, Behnke said. The vehicle entered Cass County and subsequently crashed into another …

St. Joseph County United Way is sponsoring its fifth annual Toy Box holiday drive. Agency officials said the Centreville office is accepting new toys and monetary donations used to purchase gifts for local children and teens in need. The local United Way is located at 662 E. Main St. United Way staff members are willing to pick up items. Its …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department issued a media release last week, coinciding with the five-year anniversary of the date Brittany Shank was reported missing. On Nov. 30, 2018, Shank was last seen in the 33000 block of Fawn River Road. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the office continues to follow up on tips and leads while still considering Shank’s disappearance an …

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by four-tenths of a percent from September. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.2 percent in September to 4.6 percent in October. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced a drop in its unemployment figures from September to …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of a four-wheel ATV last week from a location in Branch County. According to a department media release, the quad is a green Yamaha Kodiak 700. It has a neon green bear sticker on the center body and a cargo crate strapped to the front. It was stolen around 6 p.m. Wednesday …

Coldwater municipal officials received some good news last week. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Coldwater is one of 11 recipients of funding for local road work. In all, the grants equal $4 million. Coldwater’s share is $375,000, which it will use to resurface Butters Avenue, between Garfield Avenue and Race Street. In addition, the undertaking will include curb and gutter installation, …

A Colon resident was recently appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a state agriculture board. Sara Trattles has been named to the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. The committee develops procedures relating to the state’s soybean-marketing program. It also recommends amendments to the program. Trattles is currently vice president of Agribusiness Lending at GreenStone Farm Credit Services. In addition, she works …

A business-transfer request was postponed recently by Constantine Village Council. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the council fielded a request from Pure Provisioning LLC to transfer the business section of its provisioning operations center to 190 N. Washington St., a relocation from its grow business at 635 Franklin St. Owner Chad Biberstine said the business would be better situated in …

St. Joseph County United Way has opened a family catastrophic fund for the relatives of Victoria Rose Marckini. Victoria, who went by the name Tori, unexpectedly passed away the night of Nov. 25. She was a senior at Three Rivers High School, where she was a member of the Aristocrats and a member of the Teachers Academy. Her goal was …

Centreville Public Schools is giving a $1,000 stipend to its employees next month. The matter was approved by the district’s board of education Monday. Superintendent Chad Brady said the one-time stipend will cost the district about $123,000. The expenditure will come out of the district’s general fund. Brady said a student count greater than projected and solid fiscal responsibility by …