Government

Theft of dirt bike

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of a dirt bike from a location in Fawn River Township. The motorcycle was taken between 3 a.m. May 3 and 12:30 p.m. May 4 from the 28000 Block of Fawn River Road. Authorities said the dirt bike is a 2021 Honda CRF-450X.

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St. Joseph County – “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the department is taking part in a three-week enhanced enforcement centering on seatbelt usage. The annual “Click It or Ticket” enhanced enforcement will run May 15 through June 4 as part of a national seatbelt enforcement program. Bingaman said the campaign coincides with summer-travel season. Two-hundred and twenty-eight people not wearing a seatbelt …

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Cold case murder suspect found dead in jail

A man who was arrested last month in the 1988 stabbing and strangulation of a Three Rivers woman has died in a South Carolina jail, where he was awaiting extradition to face a murder charge. Three Rivers Police said they were told Saturday about the death of Robert Waters, age 53, at the detention center in Beaufort County, South Carolina. …

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Hillsdale County – Voters oust township clerk who doubts election results

Voters in one of Michigan’s most conservative counties have ousted a small-town clerk accused of improperly handling voting equipment after casting doubt on President Joe Biden’s election victory. Stephanie Scott lost Tuesday’s recall election in Hillsdale County’s Adams Township to Suzy Roberts, who got 406 votes to Scott’s 214, according to unofficial results reported by the county clerk’s office. Roberts, a Republican who identifies …

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South Carolina man arrested in Three Rivers woman’s 1988 killing

A South Carolina man has been charged in a Three Rivers woman’s 1988 slaying after investigators used forensic genetic genealogy to narrow the pool of suspects to a single family, authorities said Monday. Robert Odell Waters, age 53, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he lives, in the killing of Cathy Sue Swartz, St. Joseph County Prosecuting …

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Michigan expands absentee voting for military members

Overseas voters and military members from Michigan will have more time to cast their absentee ballots in future elections under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. All absentee ballots were previously required to be received at local clerk’s offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day. While military and overseas voters will have to postmark their ballots on or before …

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Sheriff Lillywhite – One year probabtion

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite was ordered to serve one year of probation after pleading guilty to a pair of misdemeanor charges related to a drunken-driving crash from earlier this year. The 47-year-old Lillywhite appeared Monday during arraignment at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse. Lillywhite apologized to emergency personnel who responded to the Feb. 26 crash that led to his arrest …

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Local man arrested following alleged threat

A 54-year-old Three Rivers resident was arrested this week for allegedly making a threat against Three Rivers Middle School. Authorities said James Roberts was charged with making a false report or threat of terrorism after allegedly calling in a threat against the school Friday. Roberts was arraigned Tuesday; bond was set at $250,000. If convicted, Roberts could face up to …

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Sturgis woman arrested

A Sturgis woman was arrested on drug- and weapon-related charges following a traffic stop in Fawn River Township. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the vehicle was stopped shortly after 11 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Fawn River Road and Lakeview Road Sturgis K-9 officer Odin was deployed and reacted to the presence of narcotics. Deputies arrested a 30-year-old woman, authorities …

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Whitmer signs stricter gun background check, storage bills

Anyone who wants to buy a gun in Michigan will have to undergo a background check, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors under new laws signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The signing took place on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, where a gunman killed three students and injured …

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