Recent Posts

Single vehicle accident sends two to hospital

A medical condition is suspected as the reason an Indiana man drove his vehicle off the roadway and into a tree last week in Fabius Township. Sheriff’s deputies said Delmer Wireman, 34, of LaPorte, Ind., was driving west on M-60 near Youngs Prairie Road when he experienced a medical issue that caused him to lose consciousness. His van rolled onto …

Read More »

Shoreline landscape workshop a success

Organizers of this past weekend’s shoreline landscape workshop are calling the morning-long program a success. About 50 people Saturday gathered at Fabius Township Hall to hear a slate of speakers provide a wealth of information related to shoreline landscape projects, including the use of indigenous plants and other measures to ensure a healthy lake ecosystem. Sponsored by Barnes Law Office …

Read More »

Chance at parole for man who killed grandfather at 14

A young Michigan man serving a no-parole prison term for killing his grandfather at age 14 received a new sentence Friday that will make him eligible for release after 35 years. It was an extraordinary break for Dakotah Eliason — and one that’s not available to hundreds of other Michigan prisoners convicted of committing murder when they were teens. Berrien …

Read More »

Man dies after large firework explodes near his head

Police say a 47-year-old man has died after a large firework shell he was holding exploded near his head in suburban Detroit. The Oakland Press of Pontiac says the Oakland County medical examiner’s office identifies him as Scott Jeffers of Walled Lake. Walled Lake Police Chief Paul Shakinas tells the Detroit Free Press that Sunday night’s explosion happened in front …

Read More »

What power plant ruling means for Michigan

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday in favor of Michigan and other Republican-led states that challenged Environmental Protection Agency rules that would reduce mercury and other air pollution from coal-fired power plants. The regulations, announced in 2011, are different from rules proposed last year to cut carbon dioxide emissions. What the decision means: ___ RULING A Supreme Court majority …

Read More »

May unemployment rate down over year ago

The May unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased eight-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 4.7 percent May unemployment rate was higher than April’s 3.9 percent. May’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.1 percent less than the same month one year …

Read More »

First same-sex marriage in St Joseph County performed

History was made last week in Centreville, as a pair of Three Rivers residents became the first same-sex couple to marry in St. Joseph County. Not long after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, Susan Henry and Dawn Munson arrived to county clerk Pattie Bender’s office to complete a marriage license. The two decided on a …

Read More »

School board members have chance to appeal

Three school board members subject to a recall have through Monday next week to appeal a decision Friday that will allow the process to continue. Three Rivers Board of Education members Waneta Truckey, Carl Barth and board president Mike Bosma did not indicate after Friday’s clarity/factual hearing what course of action they plan to follow. The three-member St. Joseph County …

Read More »

Three Rivers recall process will continue

Members of the St. Joseph County Election Commission agreed Friday that the language in petitions to recall a trio of Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members is clear. As a result, the recall process against board members Waneta Truckey, Carl Barth and board president Mike Bosma will be allowed to continue. The decision was made by the three-member …

Read More »

Out and About – Week of June 22nd

Lately, I’ve been giving some serious thought to manhole covers. They are round so that they won’t fall into the hole they cover, but that’s just about all I know about them. What’s under those cast iron objects that appear at least once on every city block? If I were to open one up and crawl inside, would I discover …

Read More »