Government

A Kalamazoo County man who stole nearly 169-thousand dollars from his employer will spend just one day in jail. Prosecutors say Nickolas Lubrick of Schoolcraft almost put Okun Brothers Shoes out of business due in part to his gambling addiction. The 32-year old Lubrick pleaded guilty to a felony embezzlement charge and he’ll have to pay back all the money …

A preliminary examination for a Burr Oak woman charged with murder is set for 9 a. m. April 25 in St. Joseph County District Court. Maria Audrey-Louise Williams, 34, is a suspect in the shooting death of 33-year-old Dennis Brooks. Brooks was fatally shot March 13 on Townline Road in Colon Township. Authorities said that after shooting Brooks, Williams left …

Congressman Fred Upton has announced that Schoolcraft resident Thomas Hurst has been accepted to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo. Upton recommended Hurst for selection to the service academy and has personally congratulated him on the appointment. Hurst is the son of Edward and JoAnn Hurst. Hurst’s older sister, Chloe, is also attending the Air Force …

The January unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.9 percent January unemployment rate was equal to December’s figure. January’s unemployment rate was 1.7 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was …

Upgrades in the booking and intercom systems at the county jail were approved last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The five-member board authorized a $178,000 quote from Midstate Jail Security, one of three bidders for the project. Sheriff’s department officials said the current intercom/speaker system is outdated and spare parts are too difficult – and in …

The Three Rivers City Commission last week passed an ordinance related to sidewalk snow removal. The ordinance calls for the owner of a building or lot adjacent to a paved sidewalk to clear the sidewalk within 72 hours of a measureable snowfall. In addition, the ordinance requires sand or an abrasive to be applied if snow is too hard or …

The victim in a semi/freight-train collision last week has been identified by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Bobby Abell, 77, of Quincy, Ill., was the driver of a southbound semi that collided with an eastbound freight train consisting of an engine and two rail cars. The incident occurred Thursday evening at the railroad crossing on U.S. 131 in Mottville …

Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson has announced he is resigning from the position later this summer. In a prepared statement, Tomlinson said he will step down around Aug. 1, but a firm date will be set once a replacement has been hired and adequately trained. Tomlinson, who has spent nearly 30 years in the industry, said philosophical differences over …

Crews from two departments spent Wednesday morning battling a fire at an apartment building at 121 N. Lincoln Ave. in Three Rivers. The blaze was reported by a passer-by around 6:45 a.m. The site is just east of the BP gas station. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire on the first floor. The interior fire was brought under …

The driver of a semi tractor-trailer was killed Thursday following a collision with a train in White Pigeon Township. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. at the crossing over U.S. 131 near Indian Prairie Road. Sheriff’s deputies said the southbound semi collided with a slow-moving, eastbound train comprised of an engine and two rail cars. The collision caused a portion …