Government

Man seriously injured when struck by car

An Elkhart man was hospitalized after he walked into traffic onto U.S. 131 in White Pigeon Township. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies were called shortly before 4:30 a.m. Monday to U.S. 131, south of Indian Prairie Road, in response to a car-versus-pedestrian incident. Investigators said a 40-year-old Three Rivers man was driving south on U.S. 131 when a 39-year-old Elkhart …

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Motorcyclist seriously injured

A motorcyclist was injured over the weekend in a crash southeast of Mendon. State Police troopers responded Saturday to the intersection of M-66 and Jacksonburg Road in response to a single-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle. Investigators said the motorcyclist was driving at a high rate of speed northbound on M-66. A witness told authorities the driver lost control of the …

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Enforcement – Hand-held cell phone ban while driving

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman says the agency plans to use grant money to enforce a new law that went into effect last week. Three House bills focusing on districted driving went into effect Saturday. Essentially, the law forbids use of a hand-held cell phone while driving. This includes use of a mobile electronic device to do any task, …

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Two killed in crash near White Pigeon

Two Shipshewana women died following a two-vehicle crash last week in White Pigeon Township. St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies were called shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday to Indian Prairie Road, near Kalamazoo Road, in response to a personal-injury incident. Investigators said an Escalade driven by a 19-year-old Lagrange County man was heading west on Indian Prairie when …

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Chapel damaged in Calhoun County

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a criminal-damage-to-property incident in Calhoun County’s Marengo Township. Law-enforcement officials said an object was thrown through the window of a chapel door between 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and 2 p.m. Thursday. The incident occurred at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

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Handheld cellphone use banned for motorists in Michigan

The use of handheld cellphones while driving a car will be outlawed in Michigan, and will take effect this Friday, June 30th, under legislation signed earlier this month by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The new law will expand Michigan’s ban on texting and driving to apply to all handheld cellphone use while operating a motor vehicle, including making calls or scrolling …

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Spence holds media event

A Mendon native and Lockport Township resident formalized the fact he is seeking the four-year term of sheriff, up for grabs in the August 2024 primary. Chad Spence filed paperwork in April but staged his first public media event Monday outside the St. Joseph County Courthouse. Spence, 49, used the occasion to announce, if elected, his undersheriff would be David …

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1 man dead, 1 wounded during shooting at park concert in Kalamazoo

A 35-year-old man has been killed and a 32-year-old man wounded during a shooting at a weekend concert that forced people to flee from a park in southwestern Michigan. The shooting occurred Saturday night as the concert in Kalamazoo’s Spring Valley Park was ending, according to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Marcus Tillman of Kalamazoo later was pronounced dead, …

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Plea agreement in strangulation death

St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin said a plea agreement and sentence have been worked out regarding the suspect allegedly involved in the October 2021 death of a Colon woman. Michael Lafler, age 37, of Colon, will be sentenced in June to a maximum of 15 years in the strangulation death of 33-year-old Chelsea Wallen. Marvin said he and defense …

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