State Police arrested an Indiana woman Sunday following a high-speed chase. The 34-year-old woman is accused of abducting her 5-year-old daughter during a supervised visit. Indiana authorities had contacted police in St. Joseph County after tracking the mother on her cellphone. A State Police trooper found the woman’s vehicle in Mottville Township and tried to arrest her, but she drove …

Police agencies in Kalamazoo had their hands full this weekend with a crowd of rowdy Western Michigan University students. Officers were called out to deal with a crowd of about 2,000 students Saturday afternoon. The party goers had been circulating between houses, drinking and celebrating, but authorities say some of them turned violent, fighting and damaging property. Police say that …

An Ottawa County man was found guilty of 16 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct following a jury trial that concluded last week. Officials from St. Joseph County Circuit Court said James Zacharko  II, 46, of Zeeland, was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old St. Joseph County girl over a four-month period in 2012. Over the course …

Organizers of the 45th Michigan Magic Day, staged over the weekend in Colon, hailed the event as a success. The annual gathering marked the first time Colon has hosted the event, which drew more than 100 magicians to activities Friday and Saturday. Ron Carnell, a member of the Colon-based International Brotherhood of Magicians 386, said a Saturday morning magic competition …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a breaking-and-entering incident in Sherman Township. Department officials said the suspects forced entry into a residence in the 24000 Block of Mintdale Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. last Thursday. Several items were stolen, including jewelry, a safe, and a 32-inch LCD television. Meanwhile, officials with the state police said a …

The Sturgis Police Department is seeking charges for arson against a 16-year-old boy. The suspect confessed to setting fire to a house in the 100 block of East Congress Street on March 9. Sgt. Amanda Coney said a joint investigation buy Sturgis police, fire and the state fire marshal during and following the incident contributed to pinpointing the suspect. Coney …

Kevin Wayne Leighton, age 48, of Mendon, died Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Anderson, IN on Dec. 21, 1965 the youngest son of Richard and Norma (Nutt) Leighton. He graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1984 and was a former member of the Lake Center Bible Church. Kevin …

Phillip J. Powell, age 93, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away Friday evening, April 11, 2014. He was born May 8, 1920 in Marcellus, MI the son of Peter Phillip and Mary Ann (Hourihan) Powell. On June 1, 1946 in Kalamazoo, MI he married Leatrice June Adams who survives. He graduated from Marcellus High School in 1939 and went on to …

Beverly Ellen Callaway, 67, of Three Rivers, passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at the Thurston Woods Nursing Facility following a lengthy illness. She was born in Ypsilanti on Oct. 24, 1946 the daughter of Mr. John and Joyce (Snyder) Koschmider. Beverly is survived by her loving family, one daughter, Kim (Brad) Hoercher of Three Rivers; two sons, John …

Doris O. (Rustad) Gelvin,  age 79, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Rolla, N. Dakota on May 10, 1934, a daughter of Raymond and Anna (Ouellette) Jones. Doris graduated from high school in Rolla. On July 12, 1982 she married William Gelvin in LaGrange, IN. He preceded her …