A jury has awarded $1.7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit by the family of one of two young people who died in 2010 after falling into a tank at a Barry County dairy farm. The Grand Rapids Press reports the jury reached its verdict Wednesday in Barry County Circuit Court. Attorney Shereef Akeel represents the family of 18-year-old Victor …

Hello. My name is Scooter and I am a male shih tzu about 7 years old. I have already been neutered and walk very nicely on a leash. I am black and white and am housetrained and like to play. My skin needs some attention, but I am being helped with that – getting a good “spa” grooming treatment. I’m …

Sturgis police arrested four people believed to be responsible for a drive-by shooting that occurred Tuesday in Sturgis. Police arrested two 16-year-old males and a 17-year-old male. On Wednesday, police identified a fourth suspect, a 32-year-old Sturgis man, and were in the process of obtaining a warrant for his arrest. Officers received a tip about his location, and found him …

Several hours after tending to a suspected arson at an abandoned house on Peck Academy Road, Constantine firefighters were called to another blaze Monday in the 62000 block of Constantine Road in Florence Township. Just before 10:30 a.m., residents said they smelled something hot and saw smoke in an attached garage. Fire personnel arrived less than 10 minutes later. The …

A longtime retailer in Sturgis will be closing later this year. Kmart, located on South Centerville Road, will shut its doors in mid-November, said Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings. A liquidation sale is expected to begin Aug. 30. Store closures are part of a series of actions being taken to reduce on-going expenses, adjust the company’s …

Rufus Tyree went home to his Saviour in Heaven on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Forest Glen Assisted Living in Dowagiac. He was 90 years old. Rufus was born on August 21, 1924 to Charles and Matilda (Holcomb) Tyree in Van, Kentucky. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 7, 1943, serving with the 467th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, …

William Robert Witt, 80, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, Aug. 7, 2015 at his home. William was born Nov. 6, 1934 in Mishawaka, Ind. to the late William Albert and Margaret Delphine (Hunter) Witt. On Nov. 17, 1984, he married Lorrie Carter in Constantine. Surviving is his wife, Lorrie, of Three Rivers, and his children Kim (Cyndi) Witt of …

Refinery problems at a BP facility in Indiana are already resulting in higher gas prices in Michigan. Gasbuddy.com’s Patrick DeHaan says the refinery issue is causing prices to rise as much as 60 cents per gallon in the short term. The BP refinery is the seventh largest in the country and the largest in the Midwest. And if the wholesale …

A 19-year-old Kalamazoo man and his passenger were injured in a crash in Cass County earlier this week. Sheriff Joe Underwood said Jesus Arrey was driving south on M-40 shortly after 2:30 p.m. Sunday when he attempted to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone near Teasdale Lake Road in Porter Township. Investigators said Arrey indicated he was attempting to …

The St. Joseph County United Way was presented a check last week from Ruth Gaudard, director of external affairs from A&T. Kelly Hostetler, executive director of the local United Way, said AT&T has partnerships in all the communities served by the United Way. Gaudard, meanwhile, said St. Joseph County United Way is doing an outstanding job working in the county …