James Grady Elliott Jr., age 62, of White Pigeon, passed away early Friday morning July 13, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born June 11, 1956, in Fontana, Calif., a son of James Grady and Amelia Imogene (Branton) Elliott. Jim had resided in White Pigeon for more than 20 years and also lived in Sturgis for a …

A Three Rivers man was injured Thursday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a deer on Harvey Street near Robbins Lake Road in Porter Township. Cass County sheriff Richard Behnke identified the driver as 28-year-old T.J. Loyer. He was transported by ambulance to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Police say a helmet was not worn.

Colon municipal officials are debating whether to raise the hourly rate for newly hired police officers. During Tuesday’s village council meeting, interim village manager Tom Tenney said a proposed starting rate of $15 an hour is being considered. The current starting hourly rate is $13. Sgt. Joel Herr said he and chief Mark Brinkert are hoping to get some help …

A Branch County man was shot accidentally earlier this week in Union Township. State police troopers were called at 11 p.m. Wednesday to Hodunk Road in Branch County, where the man was shot in a field behind a residence. Investigators said the hunter was lying down in the field, as he was varmint hunting. A resident of the home mistook …

Authorities believe they have discovered the wreckage of a small plane that crashed more than 20 years ago in northern Michigan. The Mackinac County sheriff’s office says national forest personnel found the wreckage Wednesday in the Hiawatha National Forest near St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. A single-engine Piper took off Sept. 14, 1997, from Drummond Island in Lake Huron. …

A motorist who disregarded a “Road Closed” sign was injured in a single-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Deputies were called at 3:15 p.m. to Marcellus Highway, west of O’Keefe Road. An investigation showed that a vehicle driven by 51-year-old Lawrence resident Roberta Craft disregarded a “Road Closed” sign and her vehicle struck a ditch made in …

M. Lorene Pittenger, age 95, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, July 10, 2018, at the home of her son in Sturgis. She was born July 4, 1923, in Petersburg, Va., a daughter of the late Thomas and Nishia (Stroup) Dixon. Lorene resided most of her life in Sturgis. On Sept. 11, 1942, she married Jay R. Pittenger in Petersburg. …

Colon’s interim village manager gave an ultimatum Tuesday to the seven-member village council. Tom Tenney said he would give up the post if the council decided to let someone else develop an ordinance regarding docks in public areas. The issue that sparked Tenney’s comment centers on an offer from a group of local residents and business owners who have agreed …

A Dowagiac woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash Wednesday in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11:40 a.m. to Dewey Lake Road, near Roth Road. Investigators found that 31-year-old Trisha Smith was driving west on Dewey Lake when her vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.  Consequently, her vehicle overturned and caught fire. …

A golf cart was stolen last week from a location in White Pigeon Township. State police troopers responded to the 19000 block of Dickinson Road, where an EZ-GO golf cart was reported stolen. It was taken between noon July 6 and the early morning hours of July 7. The golf cart has a lift kit, off-road tires, the number “34” …