A former LaGrange County man suspected of setting fire to Welch’s Steak and Ribs in 2009 entered a plea of no contest during his appearance in St. Joseph County Circuit Court Wednesday. Nathan Lumbard, 31, entered the plea in response to the charge of arson in exchange for a plea bargain reached with the county prosecutor’s office. For the charge …

A full-size pickup truck was reported stolen this week from a residence in White Pigeon Township. State police investigators said a 2008 Toyota Tundra was taken between 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Monday from a residence in the 1500 block of Lake Road. The vehicle was parked inside a pole barn and features an extended cab, four doors and …

Annette Smitley has been named the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District employee of the year. An educational consultant, Smitley plays a key role in professional development for new teachers as well as mentor training. Other nominees for the award were school nurse Kim Robertson, speech therapist Lynelle Garvey, assistant instructor Karrie Frederick and office assistant Mandy Dodson.

A 37-year-old White Pigeon man was arrested Thursday night after Sturgis police attempted to stop him for not having lights on his bicycle. The incident occurred in the area of North Clay and Washington Streets. The subject attempted to ride away after police activated emergency lights. The subject then got off his bicycle and ran. After a lengthy foot pursuit, …

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Constantine village and township plan to reimburse more than $200,000 owed to a former manufacturing plant following a reassessment of its property taxes. Village officials this week were told Rexam Closure Systems appealed its 2011 tax assessment. The assessment was $11.2 million but reduced to $4.5 million following its appeal. As a result, the village and township owe a total …

A potluck dinner last weekend was staged to honor Colon’s 2013 Citizens of the Year, Linda Musall and Frank Fisher. The two longtime area residents received plaques and were saluted by many of the 70-plus people in attendance. The pair also served as grand marshals during the village’s Fourth of July parade. Though the village typically has just one Citizen …

Rob Kuhlman is one of four finalists for the position of superintendent of Paw Paw Community Schools. Currently superintendent of Mendon Community Schools and Centreville Public Schools, the 57-year-old Kuhlman was the first of the four finalists to be interviewed, as he met with district officials Wednesday evening. An interview with another candidate followed, and the other two finalists will …

Health officials say they’ve confirmed the first cases of influenza in Michigan during the 2013-2014 flu season. The Michigan Department of Community Health announced Wednesday that the four cases are the first identified by a state lab this flu season. The department says the illnesses occurred in children and adults from two southeast Michigan counties. Three of the cases have …

Student Count Day in Michigan took place earlier this month, and figures from St. Joseph County show only one of its nine districts realized a student increase from last year’s October count. Colon Community Schools grew from 638 students to 640 between the October 2012 count and this year’s count, conducted Oct. 2. Proportionate to size, the biggest decreases were …