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 …

The fifth person arrested in connection with the mob beating of a Macomb County man on Detroits west side last week has now been charged. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office is charging 19-year-old Latrez Cummings with assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. A 16-year-old is facing assault and ethnic intimidation charges. …

A man who pleaded guilty to murder in the shooting deaths of a northern Indiana convenience store’s owner and an employee has been sentenced to 120 years in prison. Twenty-nine-year-old Kevin Moore of Elkhart was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty mentally ill in January to two counts of murder in the September deaths of 55-year-old Jagtar Bhatti and 20-year-old Pawan …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is seeking approval for a millage-request renewal in August. During Thursday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting, CTA director Steve Yorks said the request would ask for renewal of 0.33 mills for a four-year period. Committee members recommended the request appears before the board during its twice-a-month meeting Tuesday. After it …

St. Joseph County officials acknowledged a grant-application request from the sheriff’s department for preliminary-breath-test units. During Thursday’s executive committee meeting, county administrator Pat Yoder said law enforcement agencies in the county use the PBT units to assist deputies with drivers suspected of being intoxicated or impaired. Time and usage has resulted in a need for new units. Committee members agreed …

Here’s a reminder from the Three Rivers Department of Public Services will begin its twice-a-year hydrant flushing Sunday night. Amy Roth, DPS director, said the flushing will start at 11 p.m. Sunday. She said crews expect flushing to continue Sunday through Thursday nights through the end of May. Each flushing will take place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The …