In the year following President Barack Obama’s re-election and the Sandy Hook School shooting massacre, applications and approvals for concealed weapons permits increased by more than 50 percent in Michigan. The annual report by the Michigan State Police shows that from July 2012 to June 30, 2013, there were nearly 130,000 applications for concealed weapons permits and more than 118,000 …

Judy Ann Grant, 68, of Constantine, passed away Monday, July 21, 2014 at Three Rivers Health. She was born in Schoolcraft, MI on November 16, 1945, a daughter of Marguerita (Hoyt) and Chester Carter. On February 20, 1964 she married John W. Grant in Centreville. Judy worked at Crocker Limited Centreville, Statewide Aluminum Elkhart and Pioneer Hi Bred in Constantine. …

Sandra A. Conner, age 73, of White Pigeon, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014 at her home. She was born in Summertown, TN on October 26, 1940, a daughter of Willis and Hazel (Parker) Hardiman. Sandra was a homemaker, and had also worked in customer service at Service Merchandise, Kokomo, IN and Lakeland, FL and at Disney World in Orlando, …

Hi, there. I’m a female brindle boxer mix with a white chest. I’m about 2-3 years old and almost look like I could be pure boxer but I still have a tail, which I use constantly for wagging. I am a very happy girl who loves attention. Other dogs aren’t a problem for me. I do have a lot of …

Michigan Southern Railroad is offering a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the parties responsible for an assault and robbery of one of its employees. Around 8 p.m. Thursday, White Pigeon police were called to the railroad office at 501 Sol Morris Drive. A railroad employee told police he was confronted by someone and an altercation took place. …

Three Rivers police were called to the 200 block of Second Avenue last week in response to a stabbing incident. According to police, responding officers Wednesday discovered the victim and suspect had left the scene by the time they arrived. The victim, a 27-year-old Three Rives man, was later found and interviewed at the Three Rivers Health emergency room. As …

Sturgis police are looking for a man responsible for an assault that involved the use of a hatchet last week. Jorel Gefferand  is wanted in connection with the Thursday incident at Cato Lane Apartments. He faces charges of assault with intent to commit murder and malicious destruction of a building. Gefferand allegedly used a hatchet to assault a man who …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a tuition-reimbursement policy for county employees. Spearheaded by Commissioner Don Eaton, the program allows county employees to receive reimbursement up to 100 percent of tuition cost per semester at an accredited college, university or trade school. The course must be for credit or extended-education purposes. County administrator Pat Yoder said the classes …

Two Anderson, Ind., men were plucked from the St. Joseph River near the Mottville Dam last week. Rescue personnel said the boat got caught in the current Wednesday morning and was pulled into the dam. Both men were rescued before the boat sank. Personnel from the White Pigeon Fire Department, St. Joseph County Dive Rescue and St. Joseph County Marine …

An Illinois man died Sunday in a drowning incident on Donnell Lake in Cass County’s Penn Township. The victim was identified as 67-year-old Vincent Churak of Evergreen Park, Illinois. Central Dispatch received a call regarding a subject calling for help. Observers attempted to assist the victim, but he had already gone under the water when they arrived. Divers found the …