ELKHART

Three arrested on drug-related charges

Three people were arrested Oct. 22 on drug-related charges following a short-term investigation by the Elkhart Police Department's Street Crimes Unit.

Officers arrested:

* Brandy Green, 28, of 801 Princeton Blvd., on preliminary charges of possession of marijuana and dealing cocaine,

* Harrison Harper, 35, of Chicago, on preliminary charges of possession of marijuana and dealing cocaine; and

* Lavar Moore, 31, of Chicago, on preliminary charges of dealing cocaine, according to the Elkhart Police Department.

The Street Crimes Unit began the investigation after receiving complaints of 801 Princeton Blvd. being a possible drug house, police said. Oct. 22, officers secured a search warrant for 801 Princeton Blvd. and made the three arrests.

Money and drugs were also seized during the search.

MIDDLEBURY

Chamber of Commerce moves

The Middlebury Chamber of Commerce has moved.

Sam Pohl, executive director of the chamber, said the office moved Oct. 1 to 801 Wayne Ave., next to the 1st Source Bank building. He said it moved so it could have a location with more visibility that was easier to find.

ELKHART

Three road closures in the coming days

Three new road closures are on the way in the coming days.

A one-lane closure begins Sunday on the southbound portion of S.R. 19, north of C.R. 4 and south of Parkview Avenue. The closure is for work related to the new Martin's Supermarket. It will be closed one to two weeks.

Starting Monday, the outermost northbound lane in the 58000 block of S.R. 19 will be closed. The affected road is between C.R. 20 and C.R. 24, and will be closed for one day.

A one-lane closure also began Oct. 22 on Oakland Avenue at West Indiana Avenue. Various lanes will be closed, one at a time, for four to five days for repairs to the railroad bridge over Oakland Avenue.

CASSOPOLIS, MICH.

Bridge open over Christiana Creek

The Redfield bridge over Christiana Creek on Redfield Street in eastern Ontwa Township re-opened Oct. 22 after being closed for nearly five months for repairs.

Crews from the Cass County Road Commission spent Tuesday morning installing new guardrails on both sides of the bridge, which spans the creek between Adamsville Road on the west and Cassopolis Road on the east.

The bridge was closed in early June because of extensive damage to the timber structure. The cost of the repairs was about $60,000.

The road commission has applied to the state for critical bridge funds to have a new bridge constructed.

If approved, the monies would be available in 2012. A new all-steel span structure is expected to cost about $1 million.

GOSHEN

Five-month chess program at Chandler

Goshen Community Schools is offering a five-month chess program for students in grades two through 12.

Parents or guardians can bring their children to Tuesday's Chess for Scholastic Success at 6:30 p.m. at Chandler Elementary School, 419 S. Eighth St. Classes will be held every Tuesday.

The program, which runs through March 2010, costs $35, but children will not be turned away because of money, according to a press release.

Participants will receive a chess T-shirt and will be able to play in tournaments on Tuesday evenings at Chandler and in after-school programs at their own school.

The Tuesday evening classes are also open to students outside of Goshen Community Schools.

This is the 17th year of the Chess for Scholastic Success program. Organizers say chess teaches kids to think more clearly, concentrate, plan, deal with adversity and live with the consequences of their decisions and helps children get better grades in school.

ELKHART

Halloween event and free hayrides

Woodlawn Neighborhood Association is partnering with Bethel Assembly of God Church from 5 to 7 p.m. today to offer free hayrides and a Halloween evening event.

The hayride will run during trick-or-treating hours between 808 Modrell Blvd. and the church, 600 E. Bristol St., which will be holding a trunk-or-treat event.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

DOWAGIAC, MICH.

Funeral director found with drugs

Former Dowagiac funeral director David Groner was charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and maintaining a drug house, after a search of the 66-year-old's home on Tuesday.

Groner was already on probation from the misuse of funds involving his Dowagiac funeral home business, according to Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.

Arraignment is expected on Monday. If convicted of the charges, Groner could face up to 20 years in prison.