Government

Sturgis firefighters were called to a home in the 300 block of South Fourth Street just after 7 p.m. Wednesday for a kitchen fire. Fire personnel arrived to find the homeowner with a garden hose spraying water through the back door of the home. Fire crews entered the structure and extinguished the fire. Officials said the house sustained considerable smoke …

Jennifer Miller, administrator of the St. Joseph County Conservation District, was honored as the Conservation Partner of the Year by the Branch County Conservation District. The Branch County Conservation District gives the annual award to recognize a deserving person who goes above and beyond the call of duty for the cause of conservation. The award was presented to Miller last …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has set a time and date for a work session to meet with the county road commission. The meeting, set for 3 p.m. April 30 at the county courthouse, will center on the road commission’s millage renewal request this year and an update on road conditions in general. County administrator Pat Yoder said he …

Kalamazoo police say they think a missing 56-year-old man broke through the ice after going cross country skiing on a lake. The Department of Public Safety says the Kalamazoo man’s wife called Thursday morning to say her husband went to ski at Asylum Lake and didn’t return. The department says in a statement that authorities found the man’s vehicle in …

Firearms, jewelry and a laptop computer were stolen during a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this week in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incident occurred during the daytime Monday in the 22000 block of Roys Road. Among the items taken: a Dell laptop computer, a Remington semi-auto .22-caliber rifle, a Mossberg 12-gauge pump shotgun, a Marlin .22-caliber …

With the transition to fire protection coverage from the city of Three Rivers Fire Department, it will no longer be necessary for Lockport Township residents to call for a burn permit. The action is not required because Lockport Township residents won’t be charged for a fire response. Residents are reminded that open burning of household trash that contains plastic, rubber, …

Detroit police say a mob attacked and critically injured a man who pulled over after striking a 11-year-old boy with his truck. Sergeant Michael Woody says the accident and attack happened about 4:10 p.m. Wednesday on the city’s east side. Woody says about 30 people were at the scene but says he doesn’t know how many of them attacked the …

Two Constantine Township men, ages 26 and 24, were charged with drug-related offenses, as well as illegal possession of a deer, following arrests made Monday. Based on observations made last week, the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit went to a residence in the 62000 block of Brick Chapel Road in Constantine Township to investigate suspected methamphetamine production. SCAN unit …

A tentative trial date for the man accused of killing a Sturgis accountant has been scheduled for June 24. The date for suspect Andy Brown was set during a status conference Monday by St. Joseph County 45th Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Pre-trial motions are scheduled for May 16. Brown, of Portage, is charged with the 2013 murder of Sturgis …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has renewed its contract with Fabius Township for law-enforcement services. During Tuesday’s meeting, the commission agreed to the one-year contract. The measure, which has been in place more than 13 years, calls for the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to dedicate a car and deputy to patrol Fabius Township exclusively. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said …