Former Michigan lawmaker Harry Gast, a straight-talking Republican who served for 32 years and led the state Senate’s budget panel his final 18 years in the Capitol, died Thursday. He was 94. The farmer from St. Joseph was respected for delivering budget news bluntly to legislators and telling them what they did not always want to hear. He served in …

A Michigan city has won a dispute over a homeowner’s tall grass in a case that went to the second-highest court in the U.S. A federal appeals court says Howell didn’t violate the rights of a man who was charged $600 for failing to mow grass on a strip near his curb. In a 2-1 decision Wednesday, the court says …

  United Methodist clergy and churchgoers have held a press conference outside the bishop’s office in Lansing in support of an openly gay pastor who says he was forced to resign. More than 50 supporters of the Rev. Benjamin Hutchison were at the demonstration on Tuesday. Advocates taped a pledge to the office door asking for LGBT inclusiveness in the …

Franklin T. Lutz, 88, of Florence Township, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2015 following a long battle with cancer. He was born in Florence Township on September 24, 1926, a son of Troy and Nettie (VanFleet) Lutz. He graduated from White Pigeon High School in 1944 and entered the U.S. Navy in 1945. In August of 1946, he married Beverly …

Hello. My name is Mallory and I am a female ginger and white pit mix. Don’t let that scare you because I am very sweet and loving. I’m about 3 years old and love attention and being around people. In fact, I like being with people so much that I sometimes try to escape if I am alone, so I …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department investigated a larceny from a motor vehicle at a residence in the 56300 block of Buckhorn Road in Park Township. The theft is suspected to have taken place between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. It was reported at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Six people were recently reappointed to serve on the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Board. County commissioners agreed to reappoint Allen Balog, Barbara Fisher, Charles Thompson, Dawn Everett, Jim MacTavish and Joseph Heivilin. Their terms will expire June 30, 2017. In an unrelated matter, county commissioners approved permission to fill the position of probation officer following the resignation of …

Emma Jane Markum, 73, of Jones, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a long illness. She was born in Johnstown, Pa. on May 8, 1942 the daughter of the late Ray and Ruth (Weirick) Alwine. She graduated from high school in Pennsylvania, and later earned her Masters’ Degree in Computer Science and Business Management. …

A Three Rivers-area man is at the Branch County jail following a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle. Around 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Michigan State Police attempted to stop a vehicle with improper plates in the area of U.S. 12 and St. Joseph Road. The driver fled south on St. Joseph Road, but eventually pulled over and gave himself up. Christopher …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners last week approved a pair of out-of-state travel requests. Clerk Lindsay Oswald requested permission for deputy county clerk Catherine Rigby to attend OnBase computer training in Cleveland on two separate occasions. The first session is Aug. 17-21 and the second is Sept. 21-25. The other request was made by E-911 Central Dispatch Director Dennis …