News

Michigan’s new Amber Alert-like system to quickly warn people of mass shootings, terrorist attacks and other nearby threats is operational. State police on Thursday announced the update about the system. Following activation by law enforcement, the system can be used to interrupt radio and TV broadcasting in the affected area. A wireless emergency alert can also be issued through mobile …

Two White Pigeon residents were arrested this week after leading authorities on a pursuit between Three Rivers and White Pigeon. According to the Three Rivers Police Department, officers were called at 9 p.m. Monday to the 200 block of East Michigan Avenue in response to a larceny report. Officers discovered a residence had been ransacked and several items stolen, including …

Children of St. Joseph County parents who are undereducated, live in poverty and might be involved with methamphetamine are at risk of becoming a dubious statistic in the county’s juvenile court system. The conclusion was offered Tuesday to St. Joseph County Commissioners by Tom Robertson, director and referee of the county’s family court juvenile division. Robertson’s appearance was a scheduled …

Here’s a reminder that a major north-south route in St. Joseph County is closed for at least two weeks starting today (Thursday). A mile-and-a-half stretch of Silver Street from M-60 south to Wakeman Road in Mendon Township is due for an overhaul through a process called “crush and shape.” Chris Minger, manager of the St. Joseph County Road Commission, said the …

The bodies of two young children and two teenagers were found at a Detroit-area home early Wednesday after a man called 911 to report that he had killed them, police said. Two girls, ages 4 and 5, were asphyxiated in a car using exhaust, while a 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old male were fatally shot, Dearborn Heights police Lt. Michael …

The 166th St. Joseph County Grange Fair hits its midpoint today, which is designated Seniors Day. A full slate of events is on tap, including draft horse pulls and draft horse halter show, day four of the 4-H horse show, open-class beef and dairy cattle shows, River Country Has Talent semi-finals continue at 6 p.m., and the grandstand event is …

St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald said a new law goes into effect Oct. 1 regarding the fee for documents from the county’s register of deeds office. The law states that a fee of $30, regardless of the number of pages, will be charged. The only exception will be if the document assigns or discharges more than one instrument. In …

Two out-of-state residents were arrested last weekend after attempting to cash a fraudulent check at a Three Rivers business. Police were called Saturday to Triple Creek convenience store on South Main Street regarding a person from Ohio attempting to cash a suspicious-looking check. Officers eventually searched the suspect’s vehicle and found two handguns, money, multiple counterfeit checks and a large …

A Niles man was arrested last week on several charges following an incident during which he allegedly used a machete to threaten deputies. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said Marty Ray Gipson, 44, was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of resisting police. Deputies were called at 1:15 a.m. Sept. 14 to a …

Students in a number of school districts throughout the county enjoyed no school or an abbreviated school day Monday as part of Kids Day at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. The midway opened at 11 a.m., four hours earlier than usual on weekdays, and students were able to take advantage of unlimited rides as part of wristband day. Fair …