The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched to 107 W. St. Joseph St. Friday after a report of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed light smoke coming from a sky-lift being used by a masonry crew repairing brick at Sturgis Central Commons. Moments later, something within the sky-lift compartment exploded and the fire intensified. Crews quickly extinguished the fire. Flames …

The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a grant to help a Cassopolis manufacturer expand its operations, which will create jobs and boost the local economy. State Rep. Matt Lori said the village of Cassopolis was awarded a $127,000 Community Development Block Grant to be used toward infrastructure improvements for the Schwintek Inc. expansion project. Schwintek, a manufacturer of automatic Bimini …

Sturgis police arrested two men last week following a series of vehicle break-ins. Officers were dispatched to Market Street for a report of two men, both wearing hoodies and breaking into cars. Police arrested Sevon Gowen, 18, of Sturgis, and Max Shroyer, 19, of LaGrange, Ind. They allegedly had in their possession items that suggested vehicle theft, police said. One …

A second teenager has been found guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of a Kalamazoo middle-schooler during a gang fight.  A Kalamazoo County Circuit Court jury on Monday convicted 18-year-old Rashad Perez of second-degree murder and firearms charges in the May 26 shotgun death of 13-year-old Michael Day.  Perez faces up to life in prison when he’s sentenced Nov. …

Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering grants of $10,000 or less to shelters and other organizations that work to prevent cruelty to animals.  The agency will allocate $175,000 for the purpose next year and is accepting proposals through Nov. 10.  Registered animal control and animal protection shelters can apply for funds to help increase the adoption rate …

John W. Whitmyer, Sr. age 74, of Constantine, MI passed away at home Monday, October 20, 2014. He was born February 22, 1940 in Cassopolis, MI, the son of Melvin and Emma (Vickers) Whitmyer. He was in the RV Service business until retirement. John enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He also loved spending time with family. Surviving are one …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested a wanted fugitive and served a search warrant last week. SCAN officials had received information about an absconder from a federal drug case that originated this summer in St. Joseph County involving methamphetamine trafficking. Officers on Thursday set up surveillance at U.S. 12 and Oak Drive in White Pigeon Township …

Four of the nine school districts in St. Joseph County saw an increase in student enrollment this fall compared to a year ago. The unofficial headcount conducted two weeks ago showed Centreville, Sturgis, Three Rivers and White Pigeon all had gains in their enrollment. White Pigeon Community Schools led the way with 35 additional students for an enrollment of 792. …

Two vacant positions with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department will be filled, as the county’s board of commissioners earlier this month approved staffing the posts. One road-patrol position and a full-time job in corrections will be filled once viable candidates are found. Resignations in both cases created the openings. In other personnel matters last week, the commission hired Catherine …

Organizers behind Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste, televisions and computers, tires and paper said the amount collected exceeded the fall 2013 event. Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said preliminary figures show two semi trailers were filled with televisions and computers, 12,600 pounds of hazardous waste was collected, 635 tires were turned in and …