Three Sturgis men indicted

Three Sturgis men are among 20 people from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio indicted on charges of running a major operation smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico for sale near Fort Wayne.

Federal prosecutors last week said Gelacio Martinez, 36; Juan Pena, 20; and John Bennett, 35, were allegedly involved in the operation.

All three face charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and the use of a communication facility.

U. S. Attorney David Capp announced the indictments last Friday at a news conference in Fort Wayne.

Newly created team league

The four remaining schools from the St. Joseph Valley League athletic conference are expected to join a newly created, 10-team league.

The Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference was announced this week during the Bronson Community Schools Board of Education meeting. The new league, which will include SJV members Centreville, Bronson, White Pigeon and Mendon, will debut in the 2014-15 academic year.

Other members will be New Buffalo and Lake Michigan Catholic from the Red Arrow Conference, and Cassopolis, Buchanan, Bridgman and Niles Brandywine from the Lakeland Conference.

The state of the SJV became jeopardized after Colon, Constantine and Schoolcraft left it in 2008.

Athletic directors from the 10 schools have agreed to split the new conference into east and west divisions.

Custodial jobs outsourced

Nine custodial jobs with Sturgis Public Schools will be outsourced to a Holland-based company, following action by the district’s board of education Monday.

The nine employees will have an opportunity to join Enviro-Clean, which will cost the district about $500,000 next year. The current contract with district-employed custodians is in excess of $700,000, district officials said.

The new contract, which takes effect July 1, calls for Enviro-Clean employees to earn between $10- and $15-an-hour, with the option of self-only insurance.

Two custodians and about two dozen teachers attended in support of the current janitorial staff members. Teachers who addressed the board said current janitorial staff members are an integral part of the district and are trusted employees who are more in tune with each building’s needs.

District officials indicated they will likely review potential outsourcing of transportation services next year.

Poultry stolen

Thirty chickens and a duck were reported stolen from a Mendon Township residence earlier this week.

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called Monday to the 23000 block of Portage Lake Road, where the victim told police the animals were taken late Sunday or early Monday.

The animals were about two months old and different varieties.

New fire truck for White Pigeon

Members of the White Pigeon Fire Department recently took delivery of a new truck.

The 2013 Rosenbauer pumper and rescue will be in service by early June. The truck must first be outfitted with rescue and firefighting equipment, Township Supervisor Don Gloy said.

The truck holds 1,000 gallons of water, but has the capability to pump 1,500 gallons of water a minute.

Gloy said the cost of the truck was $460,000 and was built with specifications and features designed by firefighters.

Federal appeals court rules

A federal appeals court ruled last week that a jury should decide whether the rights of a Sturgis resident were violated by officers from the Sturgis Police Department.

A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Friday rendered its opinion regarding the 2010 incident involving then-20-year-old Charles Smith over the theft of a phone charger from Walgreens in Sturgis.

Officers Damon Knapp and Mark Stonebrunner investigated the incident and allegedly used excessive force when attempting to arrest Smith at his residence. Attorneys for Smith claim their client’s head was slammed against a wall as officers handcuffed him, and he also sustained a wrist injury as a result of handcuffs being locked too tightly around his wrists.

Lawyers on behalf of the city indicated Smith was resisting arrest and the force was warranted in order to get him to comply with police. Smith was charged with third-degree retail fraud but he eventually pleaded to a lesser misdemeanor of disturbing the peace.

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