Dakota Jay Yoder, age 10, of Centreville, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, from injuries received in a four-wheeler accident. Dakota was born March 12, 2004, a son to Vernon and Naomi (Yoder) Yoder. Dakota attended Nottawa Christian Schools, where he was in fifth grade. He also attended Pilgrim Fellowship Church in Nottawa, where he …

A Nottawa Township boy died Thursday after he was involved in an accident with an all-terrain vehicle Wednesday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Dakota Yoder was driving the four-wheeler around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on private property in the 26000 block of Marvin Road in Nottawa Township. Investigators said the ATV flipped and landed on top of the boy. …

Three people were arrested on drug-related offenses Wednesday following a transaction involving a controlled substance in the city of Three Rivers. A short time after the undercover purchase by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 600 block of North Lakeview Street in Sturgis, which lead to the discovery of …

The 2014 John E. Oster Award went to Kimberly L. Annis, a fourth- grade teacher at Eastwood Elementary. Annis was honored as the 33rd recipient of the award Monday during a meeting of the Sturgis Rotary Club. A 1992 graduate of Sturgis High School, Annis has taught at Sturgis Public Schools for more than 14 years. She has served as …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Thursday morning at a location in the 200 block of Center Street in Sturgis. SCAN officials received information where trafficking of methamphetamine was likely occurring. After a several-month investigation, officers obtained a search warrant. Once inside, officers found methamphetamine and marijuana. Two adults were arrested and taken …

A tired Michigan Legislature had to meet all night and into the morning, until it gave approval to a proposal asking voters to increase the state sales tax by a penny to pay for better roads.  Under the package, most of the revenue would come from a one percent increase in the Michigan sales tax. Other revenue would come from …

A 10-year-old boy was fatally injured while driving an all-terrain vehicle on private land in St. Joseph County. The sheriff’s department says the crash happened about 3:20 p.m.  Wednesday in Nottawa Township, about 10 miles north of Sturgis. It says that Dakota Yoder was driving fast when his four-wheel vehicle flipped on top of him in a field. It says emergency …

Wallace William “Bill” Sandberg, age 69, of Constantine, passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 17th, 2014.  Bill was born in Chicago, IL on February 17, 1945.  On March 11, 1972, he married Patricia Bambrick in Chicago. They were later divorced. Bill graduated from Harper High School in Chicago.  He worked shipping and receiving at Harter Corporation in Middlebury, …

During their final meeting of 2014 Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made reappointments to six different panels. Returning for three-year terms to the Animal Control Advisory Board are Suzanne Lee, Laura Barley and Rick Shaffer. John Bippus was approved to continue on as a member of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. Bippus, who is currently …

Residents of the Maple Crest Motel in Sturgis were displaced after a fire Tuesday night. Sturgis Fire officials said heavy smoke was coming from the roof of the building when they arrived on the scene around 6:45 p.m. Four units suffered severe damage from the fire, which appears to have started in an attic area. Residents in other units were …