Government

Police investigating burglary

A residence on Corey Lake in Fabius Township was reported burglarized Wednesday. State police investigators said the owner of the residence in the 11000 block of Coon Hollow Road was broken into during an unknown period, as the owner was out of town for several weeks, according to a state police media release. The residence is near Lakeshore Drive.

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Police investigating B & E

A breaking and entering incident was reported Tuesday from a residence in the 10000 block of Walnut Drive in Fabius Township. State police investigators said someone broke into a garage, shed and carport, and stole numerous items, including an antique bow saw, two chain saws, a two-wheeled wheelbarrow, various tools and a car battery. The incident is believed to have …

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Appointments made at commission meeting

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made a number of appointments and reappointments during Tuesday’s twice-a-month meeting. Commissioners appointed Kathy Humphreys as chief deputy treasurer. She replaces Vicky Anders, who is retiring next month. Eric Shafer was reappointed to another term on the St. Joseph County Road Commission. Shaffer’s new term starts Jan. 1 and concludes at the end …

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Murder charges filed

Prosecutors have filed a murder charge against a man accused of beating another man with a baseball bat, then leaving him critically injured in a trash bin. Thirty-year-old Francico Veloz-Padilla died last week after being hospitalized November 5th, when he was found severely injured in a trash bin in Kalamazoo. MLive reports that Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting says 25-year-old …

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Fiscal year budget approved

St. Joseph County’s 2014 fiscal-year budget was approved by the five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. More than $16.7 million was set aside for county operations in 2014, an increase of more than $1.6 million from the amended 2013 fiscal year budget of $15.1 million. Joni Smith, St. Joseph County’s director of finance, said in addition, the county …

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Items stolen from storage

A riding lawnmower and several other items were reported stolen Tuesday from a container storage in Sturgis Township. State police said the lock on a container located in the 68000 block of White School Road was cut sometime between Oct. 28 and Nov. 29. In addition to the XMARK brand mower, four tires and a vehicle engine were stolen from …

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Yoder to serve as County Administrator

St. Joseph County administrator Pat Yoder will shed his “interim” label at the start of the year. Yoder, a 65-year-old Sturgis resident, was given a one-year contract Tuesday to serve as the full-fledged county administrator. He has been serving in an interim basis since April, following the January retirement of Judy West-Wing. Yoder will receive a $105,000 base salary for …

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Village seeking donations for decorations

The village of White Pigeon is seeking donations to help with the purchase of new Christmas decorations in 2014. The fundraising effort is being spearheaded by village council Trustee Shireen Cline. She said the village decided to end a three-year tradition and not hire a company that installed and took down rented decorations. The rental and service was about $1,300 …

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Police looking for man

Investigators with the Three Rivers Police Department are looking for a man who exposed himself to a woman in the downtown area Sunday. According to a department media release, the man was on Joshua Drive near the city’s East Parking Lot around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, when he asked a woman for directions. As the woman approached the man, he pulled …

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Man arrested

A 36-year-old Sturgis man with four outstanding warrants was arrested Monday following a brief vehicle pursuit in Sturgis. State police said an attempt was made to stop the man at Fawn River and South Nottawa roads in Sturgis Township for an equipment violation. The man failed to stop and drove into the Sturgis city limits, where he exited his vehicle …

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