Government

The Sturgis Police Department wishes to alert the public that residents have been receiving phone calls from individuals posing as a representative from the Internal Revenue Service. The phone calls are scams and an attempt to obtain personal information. The suspects use the threat of jail time if they do not cooperate and provide information relating to a Social Security …

A St. Joseph County judge has revoked bond for Mark Holst, who was arrested last week on methamphetamine-related charges. Early Tuesday, St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman revoked the bond on two charges leveled against Holst in June, citing issues of public safety. Holst, 50, of White Pigeon, had been out on bond from the June charges; he …

Three Rivers police said they have positively identified the woman responsible for starting a fire at Walmart earlier in the summer June. Though the woman’s name was not disclosed, police said they know who she is and are in the process of finding her for questioning related to the June 23 fire that forced the Three Rivers store to close …

State police have released the name of an Indiana woman charged with drug-related offenses following a one-car accident earlier this week. Katie Ann Shepherd, 20, of Shipshewana, was a passenger in a car involved in an accident around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday on Featherstone Road, near Burgener Road. Troopers investigating the incident found her to be allegedly in possession of methamphetamine, …

State police on Tuesday arrested an Indiana woman for a number of drug-related offenses following a single-vehicle accident in Florence Township. According to a media release, the 19-year-old woman was a passenger in a car involved in an accident around 10:45 p.m. on Featherstone Road, near Burgener Road. Troopers investigating the incident found methamphetamine, marijuana and a Schedule 4 drug …

A Constantine man was injured after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident earlier this week in Constantine Township. State police said 81-year-old William Skelton was driving south on Brick Chapel Road at 6:30 p.m. Monday when his vehicle left the roadway near Garber Road, crossed the centerline, drove through a ditch and came to rest after striking a tree. …

A Parchment woman was cited after she disregarded a stop sign on M-60 at U.S. 131 and caused a two-vehicle accident. State police said Patricia Jones, 55, was driving east on M-60 when the vehicle she was driving struck a truck pulling a travel trailer while southbound on U.S. 131 shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday. The truck was being driven …

Potential charges against Centreville village president Jeff Johnson have been dropped, according to St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough. A complaint was filed in June by Centreville Police Chief Luke Delcourt against Johnson for harboring a felon and obstruction of justice, following the arrest of Johnson’s 42-year-old son, Jeffrey Charles Johnson, and his 39-year-old girlfriend, Karissa Baltz. Baltz and the …

A Kalamazoo man was found Tuesday, hours after he was reported missing. St. Joseph County Sheriff Department officials said Chuck Williams was located around 1:30 p.m. on M-60 near North Airport Road in Lockport Township. The 56-year-old Williams had been last seen at the Amigo Center in Sherman Township at 10 p.m. Monday. He was discovered missing at 8 a.m. …

Crews from Grand Rapids-based Pitsch Companies this week started demolition of the Wood Motel in Sturgis. At $62,000, Pitsch was low bidder for the project authorized by the city commission. Workers estimate it will take about 10 semi-truck loads to haul away debris and that the job, which started Monday, will likely be done by the end of the day …