The Michigan Secretary of State office in Dowagiac will re-open later this month after a renovation project required it to move to a temporary location in Cassopolis. The temporary office at, 61682 Dailey Road, will close at 5 p.m. Friday. During the week-long closure, office equipment and furniture will be moved from Cassopolis back to Dowagiac. In addition, phone lines, …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a theft of a pickup truck in Branch County’s Ovid Township. The incident occurred in the 500 block of Quimby Road, near Bella Vista Golf Course, authorities said. Investigators said the theft occurred between 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Tuesday. The vehicle is described as a 2013 Ford F150, black in color with a …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week heard from John Lindsey, managing director of St. Joseph County Road Commission, regarding a work stoppage at Rieth-Riley. Addressing commissioners Tuesday, Lindsey first provided an update on local road-paving projects within the county. He said all local road paving projects are completed, most of them with the allocation fund, where townships …

A Sturgis man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted another man over the weekend in an area near downtown Sturgis. According to Sturgis police, the 67-year-old suspect brutally assaulted a 77-year-old Jonesville man. A department media release did not indicate the circumstances of the incident. The victim was treated at Sturgis Hospital. The suspect was charged with felonious assault, according …

A Three Rivers man was injured over the weekend after the all-terrain vehicle he was driving flipped and landed on top of him. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday to the 10000 block of Cranberry Lake Road in Marcellus Township. Investigators said 45-year-old John McDowell was riding the four-wheeler on private property. …

The Branch-Hillsdale, St. Joseph Community Health Agency encourages parents and health-care providers to talk to kids about tobacco use, and to remind them that spit tobacco and e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. Providing a tobacco-free example and home environment can also help protect kids from tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. In addition, tobacco-free school policies …

Three Rivers resident Geoffrey Clark has announced he plans to run for the Three Rivers City Commission as a write-in candidate. Clark made the announcement last week and in response, Three Rivers resident Cody Sharpe said he will not pursue a write-in campaign of his own. Sharpe said he will instead support Clark as candidate for the city’s First District. …

Summer vacation is over for the school children. Where did the summer go? With students back in the classroom, we all must be aware of the activity in and around the many school zones. One never knows when a child is going to dart out into the street from between parked cars. School buses are now busy picking up or …

A Dowagiac woman was injured after she fell asleep while driving on M-60 in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 9 a.m. Thursday to a location on M-60 near Bair Lake Road, where a car driven by 22-year-old Jaquline Hand struck a semi tractor-trailer. Investigators found that Hand was driving west on M-60 when …

The largest suicide-prevention conference for mental-health professionals is coming up next month. The online webinar is free for mental-health professionals. Live sessions take place Sept. 14 and 15, and are available to stream on-demand Sept. 16 through 29. Presentations will feature a line-up of suicide-prevention experts from around the world. Participants can earn up to 10 hours of NBCC-approved CE …