Voters in the Nottawa Community School District agreed to support a sinking-fund mill in the amount of one-and-a-half mills. The request, approved by a margin of 255 in favor to 174 opposed, is for a 10-year period and in its first year will generate more than $90,000. Superintendent Jerome Wolff said the funds will be used for improvements in school …

The two-mill request in Centreville for the fire department was approved by voters, 320 to 155. The measure will raise nearly $45,000 in its first year. Meanwhile, a request in White Pigeon Township for three-quarters of a mill for matching funds with the St. Joseph County Road Commission was approved, 764 to 560. Voters also approved an emergency services millage …

Aaron Miller will return in January to serve his final two years as state representative for the 59th House District. Miller, a Sturgis resident, defeated Dennis Smith of Constantine by a margin of 66 to 34 percent. Miller, 31, said he appreciates the opportunity to serve the maximum three, two-year terms. A former high school teacher, Miller said he is …

Republican Kim LaSata, a 55-year-old Benton Harbor-area resident, will be the new state senator for the 21st District. She defeated Democrat Ian Haight (HATE). Haight, age 33, by a margin of 58 to 42 percent. LaSata, a former elementary school teacher, gave up her seat as a state representative to pursue the move up to state senator.

In Michigan’s 6th congressional district, Fred Upton was reelected, defeating Matt Longjohn by a 50 to 46% margin.

The Three Rivers Community Schools had three seats to fill. Elected to the board were Linda Baker, Erin Nowak, and Kevin Hamilton. Sturgis voters elected Kerri Millett and Gwen Donmyer to the school board. In Constantine, Wendy Rodewald and Marinda Stamp were elected to the school board. Centreville school district voters elected TJ Reed, Margaret Miller, Jeffery Troyer, and Jackie …

PROPOSAL 1 The proposal with perhaps the highest level of public interest will legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Under Proposal 1, recreational marijuana would be regulated in essentially the same way as alcohol. You won’t be allowed to use it if you’re under 21 and it will still be illegal to drive under the influence. People will be allowed …

Michiganders are finding the lowest prices at the pump since April. The state average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.72; 39 cents less than this year’s high, and the same as this time last year. Gas prices continued their downward trek last week, declining another 9 cents.  The state average declined for the 10th consecutive day on Sunday, for a total discount of 12 cents. Most …

Firefighters from four departments battled a house fire Thursday in White Pigeon Township. The fire, which destroyed a vacant house in the 16000 block of U.S. 12, was reported by a passerby at 10:45 p.m. First-arriving personnel found heavy fire coming from the rear of the home, located across from the White Pigeon Fire Department. High winds hampered efforts to extinguish …

State Sen. John Proos last week congratulated 10 schools in his district awarded more than $1.4 million in grants to make safety improvements. The Legislature dedicated $25 million in the state’s budget for the Competitive School Safety Grant program to help improve the safety and security of school buildings through the purchase of technology and equipment and through school building …