State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident involving a number of RV trailers in White Pigeon Township. According to an agency media release, troopers were summoned at 3 p.m. Saturday to the 69000 block of U.S. 131, where 17 new trailers were entered. Numerous items valued in excess of several thousand dollars were stolen from inside the trailers. Furthermore, several …

Mendon’s Logan Slaughter and Elijah Klepper were named to the Associated Press’ Division 7-8 All-State Football Team. For Slaughter it was his third appearance on the prestigious team. He was a four-year starter for the Hornets, who went 10-2 in the 2014 season. Klepper, a senior and team captain, rushed for 1,702 yards on 190 carries this season. He averaged …

William E. Esseltine went to be with the Lord on Nov. 23, 2014, surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 8, 1941, at Three Rivers Hospital, to William H. and Edna (Hackenburg) Esseltine). Bill was raised in Colon and lived in Sturgis most of his married life. On Aug. 18, 1963, he married Linda Ackerman. He worked as an …

Police have arrested a Battle Creek man in connection with a fatal stabbing and apartment fire in Kalamazoo over the weekend. The 35-year-old suspect was to be arraigned on charges of open murder and arson Tuesday. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers were called to the Clayborne Court Apartment complex Saturday night. The fire was in a bedroom and fire crews were able …

George Wayne Coomer, age 62, of Centreville, died at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo on Monday, November 24, 2014, surrounded by his loving family and friends after a valiant four year battle with cancer. George was born in Sturgis, September 21, 1952 to Robert and Wilma (Davis) Coomer of Nottawa. He graduated from Centreville High school in 1970 and was a graduate …

Thursday is Thanksgiving. You still have time to invite someone to join you for Thanksgiving dinner. If you look carefully, I’m sure you can find someone who is in need of the family atmosphere. Thanksgiving is the one day when no one should have to work. Unfortunately, there will be a few stores that will be open so that shoppers …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved letters of understanding with seven different parties, including four units affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. The agreements, along with a 3 percent raise, were reached with AFSCME employees from Probate Court, Friend of the Court, the General Unit and Family Division. In addition, …

St. Joseph County’s township supervisors were given a detailed summary of the county’s delinquent-tax fund during their quarterly gathering last week at White Pigeon’s township office. County administrator Pat Yoder was a guest at Thursday’s township supervisors meeting. The delinquent-tax account is one of a few matters he was asked to speak about. He said the county over the past …

A structural assessment will be conducted of the mill building at Rawson’s King Mill Park in Leonidas Township. During last week’s county commission meeting, commissioners approved Fleis and Vandenbrink to conduct a structural evaluation of the historical building. Human resources director Elishia Arver said the inspection will allow the county to debate future options of the building. Those options include …

About a dozen homes in Sherman Township were evacuated late Sunday after a thousand-gallon propane tank began to leak. Authorities said the tank slid off of its base due to soft ground and rolled down a hill around 9:30 p.m. The tank then struck a tree at the tank’s valve. Homes were evacuated in an area that included Banker Street, …