It appears revenue will be on the plus side for state government when the books are closed on the 2013 fiscal year, which ended October 1st. The Senate Fiscal Agency, in a preliminary report, says General Fund and School Aid Fund combined revenue for the state is 434- (m) million dollars above the May 2013 revenue estimating conference numbers. The …

The cause of a weekend fire that killed an 11-month-old girl remains under investigation by authorities from the Michigan State Police and the Sturgis Fire Department. No new details were available Tuesday regarding the Sunday morning fire at the Gateway Court apartment where an 11-month-old girl perished as a result of the blaze. The fire started in the master bedroom …

The man responsible for burning a Sturgis restaurant more than four years ago will be sentenced in St. Joseph County Circuit Court Feb. 7. Nathan Lumbard, 31, will appear before Judge Paul Stutesman after his attorney indicated Monday Lumbard would not ask for a trial and instead keep his pleas of no-contest and guilty. Stutesman said the sentence will be …

Mike Doe has been named president of the Glen Oaks Community College Foundation. The foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports educational services and programs at the Centreville-area school. Doe, vice president of sales and public relations at LTI Printing of Sturgis, will oversee the board responsible for providing more than 55 scholarships annually to Glen Oaks students. Doe replaces …

A 52-year-old Indiana man was killed in a one-car crash Saturday morning in Cass County. According to Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr., David Wenger was driving west on Calvin Hill Street in Jefferson Township, when he failed to negotiate a curve near North Shore Drive. His vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, Underwood said. The incident occurred at 8:30 …

I find it very interesting how life works out. We are born without any teeth and we wear diapers for a while. The final days of our life here on earth, some of us don’t have our teeth anymore, and some of us wear diapers. I’m sure there are a few more similarities, but I won’t go into them at …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Robin Baker said he has been attending township meetings within his district and has been asked about contracting for additional police coverage. During the commission’s committee of the whole meeting Dec. 13, Baker said township officials within his jurisdiction continue to have discussions about the matter. Baker said he is being asked if the sheriff’s department …

Guns and other items were stolen during a breaking-and-entering incident at a residence in Mottville Township this week. State police said the incident occurred in the 6900 block of Mann Road. Details regarding the method of entry were not indicated in a department media release.

Vera T. Armstrong, 91, of Plainwell, died Dec. 20, 2013 at the Stanford Lodge, Plainwell. She was born Jan. 16, 1922, the daughter of George and Neva (Romig) Fisher. A time to gather with the family while sharing food and refreshments will begin at noon on Monday, Dec. 23 followed by a service at 2 p.m. at the Life Story …

A house in Three Rivers was severely damaged by heat and smoke as the result of a fire Sunday afternoon. According to Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson, the residence at 707 7th St., was filled with smoke and fire was emitting from a first-floor window as crews arrived at 5:30 p.m. Nobody was home at the time of the …