More than 100 people showed up Wednesday for a benefit 5K to support a Centreville teacher recovering from breast cancer. “Love for Laura,” organized by longtime friend Michelle Smith of Vicksburg, was coordinated to recognize Laura Wilson. Wilson is an English/language arts teacher at Centreville Junior High. She previously taught 19 years at Vicksburg Middle School. Participants included several Centreville …

A longtime administrator with Sturgis Public Schools passed away last month. Larry McConnell died Dec. 21 at the age of 92. He had served as Sturgis superintendent for 18 years during a span that included the 1990s. After retirement, McConnell remained active in the community. He served on the Thurston Woods Village Board of Directors and was a past president …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters recently issued a media release regarding actions he has helped take to prevent oil spills in the Great Lakes. Peters said he and others took action after realizing the state isn’t adequately equipped to handle a potential spill in the Great Lakes. As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise was created. …

A Sturgis man who had recently completed parole was arrested Christmas day for allegedly resisting and obstructing a trio of Sturgis police officers. St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton conducted a jail arraignment Thursday for Joshua Fleming, 39. Middleton called Fleming “an angry young man” and initially declined bond for the convicted felon. Prosecutor-elect Deb Davis reviewed the …

A Vicksburg man accused of striking and killing with his vehicle a 10-year-old Amish boy in Sherman Township allegedly violated terms of his bond, court officials said last week. Logan Thomas, 29, appeared Thursday in St. Joseph County District Court before Judge Jeff Middleton. His original court appearance stemmed from a Dec. 2 incident that resulted in the death of …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety is investigating a rash of vehicle break-ins last week. Authorities said multiple vehicles were broken into early Friday morning. The incidents were limited to an area on the north side of the city. Officers were responding to the first call when reports from additional victims alerted police. Officers confirmed that several other vehicles had, …

Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Chad Brady said Chad Spence has been named Michigan’s CTE “New Teacher of the Year” award winner. Brady said he met Friday with Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education state chair Mikki Spagnoli to inform Spence of the accolade. A surprised Spence gave credit to his students and support he has received while serving as a …

A Marcellus woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 12:30 p.m. Friday to Lawrence Road, south of 96th Street. Investigators said 31-year-old Donna Farmer was traveling south on Lawrence Road when she lost control of her vehicle. It left the roadway and overturned before …

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate advanced by two-tenths of a percent to 4.8 percent during November, according to data released by Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. The state’s unemployment rate increased in November, primarily due to a rise in the number of unemployed people, according to Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data …

The trial of a 21-year-old Sturgis woman who is a suspect in the alleged murder of her 2-year-old child is expected to be postponed. The case involves Paige Bohne, who is accused of allegedly killing her child last month at a residence in Memory Lane Mobile Home Park in Sturgis Township. Bohne was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter. Trial was …