Government

State Rep. Matt Lori last week announced a grant to eliminate blight in downtown Dowagiac by funding rehabilitation of a historic building into a movie theater and residential units. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved the $171,005 Community Development Block Grant enabling a local firm to rehabilitate the building, located at 115 S. Front St. The building is currently in …

The August retirement of David Northrop as director of the Sturgis Department of Public Safety has resulted in a number of promotions, announced Thursday by the department. Geoff Smith was promoted from detective sergeant to chief; Ryan Banaszak from sergeant to detective sergeant; Damon Knapp from shift sergeant to school resource officer; Jeremy Marsh from sergeant to nighttime shift sergeant; …

Two men, ages 23 and 17, were taken into custody by Sturgis police following a foot pursuit near Franks Park late Tuesday. According to the Sturgis Police Department, the two were seen walking in the park shortly before midnight. Police suspected the two were involved in a methamphetamine lab earlier in the day. As officers attempted to stop them, the …

An update on the formation of historic district guidelines, applicable to downtown Three Rivers businesses, was provided this week to the Three Rivers City Commission. The report was presented by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma, chairman of the city’s Historic District Commission. He provided Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners detailed examples of conformity guidelines to which downtown building owners will be subject …

Five people were arrested Wednesday following the culmination of an investigation into the production of methamphetamine in Mendon Township. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said three men and two women were taken into custody. They were arrested at a residence in the 24000 block of Pinhook Road by investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. …

The Director of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is facing some tough questions from city officials following the release of a report on racial profiling. Chief Jeff Hadley presented the results of year-long study to the City Commission Tuesday night, showing African American drivers are more than twice as likely as anyone else to be pulled over in the …

Police in northern Indiana fired tear gas into an apartment to end a three-hour standoff and arrest a man who had skipped his trial on forgery and other charges. Elkhart police went Wednesday night to the Washington Gardens Apartments with an arrest warrant for 25-year-old Delvon Tolbert. Assistant Police Chief Laura Koch said Tolbert locked himself in the apartment and …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District has canceled its final river cleanup of the season Saturday. A 2.8-mile stretch of the Nottawa Creek in Leonidas Township was supposed to cap the agency’s seven cleanup events this summer. Jen Miller, Conservation District administrator, said the agency appreciates the support of numerous volunteers and businesses that supported the six cleanup efforts in …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has re-appointed two members to its Board of Election Canvassers. During Tuesday’s commission meeting, a ballot vote was cast by the four commissioners present; Jack Brooks and Carol Snow-Penn were unanimously chosen to serve four-year terms. Brooks will represent the Democratic party and Snow-Penn the Republican party. The Board of Election Canvassers is …

The Three Rivers City Commission will stage a public hearing later this month regarding a property at 1001 Wood St. During Tuesday’s city commission meeting, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners set the date, due to a violation of city code. Lowry said the property owner – Consumers Sand and Gravel – has failed to respond to notices of violation left …