William “Bill” Rohrer, age 66, of Otisville, Michigan, formerly of Three Rivers, died Friday, November 9, 2018 at his residence. A memorial service was held at on Friday, November 30, 2018 at the West Forest United Methodist Church, with Pastor Bruce Malicoat officiating. Honoring his wishes, cremation has taken place. Bill was born on March 17, 1952 to Malcolm and …

Michigan State Police has announced that Michigan residents with an existing concealed-pistol license can now renew their license online at www.michigan.gov/CPLrenewal. Online renewal requires a personal identification number. In addition, if a CPL holder’s renewal notification letter does not contain a PIN, they may request a new renewal notification letter directly from the county clerk who issued the CPL. St. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller said a plan approved this week by the Michigan House will provide more transparency for voters and enhance the integrity of the state’s citizen petition initiative process. The bills – sponsored by members of both parties – make much-needed improvements to Michigan’s grassroots lawmaking process while boosting accountability and giving voters in rural areas and small …

Employees from Sturgis Hospital attended Wednesday’s Sturgis City Commissioners meeting to seek support in calling for transparency and accountability from the hospital’s top executives. The group of employees included nurses from the Michigan Nurses Association, and members of the Sturgis Hospital General Employees Association and Technical Employees Association. Recent cuts have eliminated the OB unit and approximately 60 hospital employees …

Alcohol is potentially a factor in a single-vehicle accident that occurred earlier this week near Colon in Branch County. State police troopers responded shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Olivarda and Arney roads in Sherwood Township. Investigators said the driver was traveling south on Oliverda Road when she lost control of the vehicle, which overturned and came …

A Jones man is in Cass County jail on several charges after his arrest in St. Joseph County. Sheriff ’s deputies attempted to stop a vehicle and led police on a chase into Indiana, then back into Michigan, where the driver was able to elude authorities. Later in the day, however, authorities located the suspect hiding in a barn near …

Family members of Venus Stewart will finally have closure this weekend (December 15, 2018). According to Schipper Funeral Home in Colon, a graveside service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Leonidas Cemetery. Stewart’s remains were found in October after her estranged husband, Doug Stewart, led authorities to the location in a wooded area south of Fulton. Venus was …

Members of the Centreville Public Schools Board of Education have approved a bid of nearly $30,000 for access control and physical security at the school district. Unified Security Solutions’ bid came in $20,000 less than other bids; Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said that technology personnel from the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District reviewed the bid and were very comfortable with it. …

A northern Indiana couple has been sentenced in a hit-and-run crash that killed two children and a man. An Elkhart County judge sentenced 43-year-old Leonard Grosswiler on Wednesday to 15 years, with 10 years to be served in prison and the rest in community corrections and probation. The Elkhart man had pleaded guilty in October to leaving the scene of …

Following the intervention of a mediator, a lawsuit filed against a county agency by its former director was settled before going to trial. The issue stems from a November 2017 lawsuit filed by Liz O’Dell, former executive director of Community Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. CMH board members in August last year terminated O’Dell based on …