A home in the 67000 block of Oxbow Drive in Constantine Township was heavily damaged by fire Sunday. The fire was reported about 4:45 p. m. Firefighters arrived to find flames coming through the roof. Officials said the fire appeared to have an electrical source and had started in the attic. No injuries were reported.

Distraction is the major factor in 58-percent of all crashes involving teenagers, based on a new report from the Triple-A Foundation for Traffic Safety. The report cites video analysis that found distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes, which is four times as many as official estimates based on police reports. Researchers analyzed the six seconds …

A man is behind bars after gunfire Wednesday in Kalamazoo. Police responding to reports of gunfire found a car with several people inside, one of whom ran off, throwing away a loaded handgun as he fled. The 18-year-old man was caught and arrested. The pistol was found to be stolen. Police say they also found heroin, cocaine and meth on the suspect when …

State police said 56 Michigan public school districts – including Sturgis Public Schools – will get a share of $4 million in funding to boost school safety. The money announced last week will be used to purchase equipment and technology to improve the safety and security of school buildings, students and staff. Grant recipients have until Sept. 15 to spend …

The Centreville Public Schools Board of Education this week agreed to renew for one year its contracts with three administrators. During action Monday, the board approved contracts for high school/junior high principal Dennis Kirby, elementary principal Becky Stouffer and Covered Bridge School principal Juanita Miller, who also oversees the district’s adult education, community education and jail programs. Contracts for 2015-16 …

Up to six officials from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were granted permission to attend an out-of-state conference later this year. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved the request for the employees to attend the American Jail Association annual meeting in North Carolina. The conference will not impose a cost to the county, as all …

Members of the Sturgis City Commissioners are continuing work on a joint agreement for a new St. Joseph County senior center. The city has agreed to lease land near Doyle Community Center to the St. Joseph County Building Authority for $ 1 per year for the next 50 years to provide a site for the new center. The lease makes …

Mary Lou Griffin, age 72, of Colon, and formerly of Mendon, died Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at her home. She was born in Cadillac, MI on Aug. 17, 1942 the daughter of the late Joseph and Louella (Luhrs) Skelton. She was a 1961 graduate of Vicksburg High School and later attended Glen Oaks Community College. Mary was an upholsterer, working …

Authorities say a man has been hurt after apparently trying to scale a building to get into his apartment from another balcony and falling six floors. The Ann Arbor News reports Tuesday that the 51-year-old Ann Arbor man had arm and leg injuries but was conscious when police arrived Sunday evening. He told officers he’d fallen down the outside of …

Julia E. Sutton, age 88, of Three Rivers, formerly of Constantine, passed away Monday, March 23, 2015 at Heartland Health Care Center. She was born July 9, 1926 in Constantine, a daughter of Charles and Pansy Violet (Roberts) Young, Jr. Julia graduated from Constantine High School in 1944. On Dec. 17, 1947 she married Willard Sutton in Constantine. He preceded her in death …