A 38-year-old Cass County man was arrested last week on drug- and weapons-related charges. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant Friday in the 19000 block of State Line Road in Mason Township. While searching the residence, detectives found meth, meth paraphernalia and a firearm. The suspect faces charges of possession of meth …

A major route in Sturgis will be closed starting today to allow for infrastructure work. Municipal officials said sanitary sewer work is being done on North Nottawa Street. As a result, it will be closed from Main Street to Hatch Street through late September. Simultaneously, Department of Public Services plan to replace water-main valves in the three-block stretch. DPS officials …

Michael Allen Orban, age 57, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening, September 1, 2024, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. He was born March 25, 1967 in Sturgis to Deborah Orban. Mike was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1986. In 1993 he married Kelly Melchi in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. …

James “Jamie” Louis Kasey, Jr., age 71, of White Pigeon, left his earthly home to sing and dance among the stars, Friday, August 30, 2024, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He leaves behind his wife of 49 years Lynne A. Kasey; daughters: Lindsay Kasey and Melissa Kasey; grandson Orion Kasey; granddaughter: Quinn; sister: Tamara (Jim) Jarrow; brother: Ben (Karen) …

Betty Louise Leverence, age 94, of Burr Oak, passed away Friday evening, August 30, 2024, at Sparrow House Senior Living in Sturgis. She was born October 11, 1929, in Athens, Michigan daughter of the late Christian and Clara (Draheim) Miller. Betty resided in Burr Oak since 1953, coming from Nottawa. On August 8, 1953, she married Keith Charles Leverence at …

A cool, clear start shifted to beautiful sunny skies for the 2024 Mackinac Bridge Walk today, which undoubtedly reassured the roughly 30,000 people who made plans to participate Monday. “While not the largest crowd we’ve seen, 30,000 is on the upper end of the range of 21,000-35,000 participants we’ve had in recent years,” said Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Bridge Director …

White Pigeon Township Library Director Perri Saunders recently provided an update on library-related matters. For starters, Saunders said more than 1,400 books were read by students who participated in its Summer Reading Program. In addition, Saunders said the library was awarded an LSTA grant through the Library of Michigan to fund a new Memory Connections collection. Saunders plans to elaborate …

Participants in last month’s river cleanup of the Nottawa Creek report the event was deemed a success. Coordinator Eric Pretzlav said the team of 20 volunteers started at Rawson’s King Mill Dam and covered 2 1/2 miles. The route included a small portion of the St. Joseph River. Pretzlav said two trash bags were filled and debris included bottles, cans, …

A new free store in the Leonidas area recently opened. The Pass It Forward Shop is an extension of Factoryville Bible Church. It is open typically four days a month and offers a variety of items, including clothes and household goods. Its current schedule is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. two Fridays a month and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. …

We celebrate Labor Day this week. If your child is not already in school, he/she will be by the end of the week. Not only do we celebrate September 2 as Labor Day, but we also celebrate V-J Day. On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the Formal Surrender. Next Sunday, September 8, is Grandparents Day. We should celebrate our grandparents …