A Branch County man and a pilot from Vicksburg escaped injury after the plane they were in was forced to land on its belly last week on a runway in Coldwater Township. Branch County Sheriff’s deputies said the incident occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. Friday at Branch County Airport. Robert Coles, 45, of Vicksburg, and 38-year-old Jeffrey Chatfield, a Coldwater …

In an effort to keep up with training in real-life situations, staff at Sturgis Hospital took part in a mock hazmat situation earlier this month. The simulated situation took place in a local corn field, where a handful of teenagers were detasseling. In the mock scenario, a crop duster was not notified of the workers being on location and sprayed …

A suspect in a Kalamazoo County carjacking incident over the weekend was eventually taken into custody in Three Rivers. Police chief Scott Boling said officers used an automated license plate reader system to get a detailed description of the stolen vehicle. A St. Joseph County Deputy observed the stolen vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver fled …

A Vandalia man was thrown from his motorcycle after it struck a deer in the road in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 5 p.m. Saturday to Mt. Zion Street, near Kessington Road, related to a single-vehicle crash. Investigators said Charles Allen, 68, was traveling west on Mt. Zion Street when his motorcycle struck …

Mendon Police Department is investigating a break-in last week at a bank north of the village’s downtown district. Officers were notified shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday that a male suspect used a rock to gain entry into the Southern Michigan Bank and Trust, according to officials. The bank is in the 100 block of North Nottawa Street. Officers arrived to …

Organizers of the 2024 St. Joseph County Grange Fair expect before the end of the week to have attendance figures for the eight-day event, which concluded Sunday. Aside from rain Sunday, the 2024 fair experienced good weather, solid 4-H participation and strong attendance Friday and Saturday. Fair officials said nightly grandstand events were also well-attended. Michigan’s second-to-last county fair returns …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of multiple items from a construction site in Lockport Township. Investigators said the incident took place between 1 p.m. Monday and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 18000 block of South Fisher Lake Road. Multiple items were damaged or stolen from the property, including items containing copper wiring, authorities said.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a horse in St. Joseph County has died of West Nile Virus. Information was released earlier this week to Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. The unvaccinated horse was the third horse in the state and second in the tri-county region to die of the virus this year. There are currently no …

St. Joseph County Human Services Commission collaborative coordinator Laura Brott said the agency is looking for some assistance during its upcoming Project Connect. Brott said volunteers are needed to help direct the flow of traffic and parking at the Oct. 11 event. It will be held in the Fred Henningsen Show Arena at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. The help …

Municipal officials in Constantine said a major east-west route in the village will be closed for eight days starting next week. During their village council meeting Monday, Constantine leaders approved closure of East Water Street, west of Station Street. The measure will allow contractors to cut into the road on East Water Street and install a water pipe under the …