Limited use of rifles for hunting

The House Tourism Committee last week approved a bill allowing limited use of rifles for deer hunting in an area now limited to shotguns, muzzleloaders and pistols.

Introduced by State Rep. Matt Lori, the bill would allow the use of a straight-walled pistol cartridge in rifles that can accommodate such ammunition. The pistol cartridges do not travel as far as conventional rifle rounds and pose less of a safety risk, Lori said. The use of rifles in the southern part of Michigan is currently restricted because of the safety risk posed in more heavily populated areas of the state.

Lori said the measure will bring Michigan in line with Indiana, which has approved use of such ammunition for rifle hunting

A Constantine-area resident, Lori said the cartridges also cause less recoil than shotguns, which could appeal to youth, female and senior citizen deer hunters.

MDOT announces road project

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced a six-week road project impacting traffic on U.S. 12 in Cass County.

MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the agency starting Wednesday will be resurfacing U.S. 12 from M-62 in Edwardsburg to Mason Street in Union, and M-217 from the state line to U.S. 12 in Union.

There will be single-lane closures under flag control, Schirripa said.

The project is due to be completed June 28.

Sheriff investigating breaking-and-entering

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department last week investigated a breaking-and-entering incident at a residence in Colon Township.

Investigators said someone entered a seasonal residence in the 56000 block of Stowell Road between April 27 and May 10.

A bed mattress, box spring and washing machine were stolen from the residence.

Scholarships awarded

Nearly two dozen Sturgis High School graduates-to-be were recipients of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation Scholarship Reception for 2013.

The recent program featured scholarship recipients and representatives from the families who helped make the awards possible.

Close to $110,000 was awarded to students in educational and camp scholarship awards.

Since 1999, more than 650 students have received in excess of $460,000 in scholarships through the foundation.

Man not injured after crash

An 80-year-old Three Rivers man was not injured after the vehicle he was driving ended up in a creek Wednesday in Fabius Township

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Fred Soukup was driving west on Coon Hollow Road when he lost control of his vehicle around 5:30 p.m. and went off the roadway near Ferguson Road.

Deputies said Soukup’s vehicle overturned and landed on the driver’s side. Soukup was able to exit the vehicle with the aid of passing motorists. He was cited for failure to use due care and caution.

Bills approved by the House

State Rep. Matt Lori played a role in a package of bills approved this week by the House Criminal Justice Committee.

Three of the bills lower the blood-alcohol content level from the current 0.10 to 0.08 percent for operators of boats, off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. Lori’s portion of the bills is specific to watercraft.

Meanwhile, Lori’s Crime Stoppers bill establishes funding for the nonprofit Crime Stoppers organization, paid for by criminals convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses.

Under the legislation, counties would designate a Crime Stoppers organization for the region. Those convicted of felonies would be assessed an additional $10 fee and misdemeanor fees would be increased by $5. Counties would use the money – minus 10 percent that counties could use for administration costs – to fund the Crime Stoppers unit.

The bills now go to the full House for consideration.

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