The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education recently voted unanimously to proceed with tenure charges pursuant to the Teachers’ Tenure Act against Keith Lang. Lang, a tenured teacher, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of fourth- degree criminal sexual conduct and other criminal charges. In a separate vote, board members voted unanimously to place Lang’s salary into escrow and …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said sewer rates might go down next year, as he reviewed a portion of the prospective 2017-2018 village budget. The sewer fund is in healthy shape after suffering for a number of years, Honeysett said. During a recent village council meeting, Honeysett said the water-sewer fund got 7 mills last year, collected for the debt …

Local police agencies have seen an increase of scams by people making phone calls and claiming to be with the IRS. Police say a recording tells the call recipient they have done something to defraud the government and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The caller is not specific and they do not address the person by …

The Sturgis Knights of Columbus Council 2508 made donations to St. Joe Community Co-op and Pathfinders Education Center from the Tootsie Roll drive recently held in Sturgis. Pathfinder Educational Center is a centralized Special Education Facility operated by St. Joseph County ISD that provides life skills training to students in special education age 3 to 26 years of age. Students …

LeRoy B. Hummel passed away at home in Bohemia, Pa. on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. He was 87 years old. Lee was born in 1929 in Benton Harbor, the son of the late Lester Hummel and Velma (Shyne) Hummel. He was married to Kathleen Hummel for 44 years. Born during the depression, Lee had a long and varied working career. …

Eran Lynette Butler, age 95, died on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Services are pending at Hohner Funeral Home.

Mildred “Millie” L. Bachinski, 87, of Warren for 43 years, died Tuesday, April 4, 2017 in her daughter’s home. Visitation will be held 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Sharp Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Road, Flint. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Three Rivers, at a later date. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make …

Members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County Board voted to remove executive director Liz O’Dell from her position pending an upcoming audit. Newly appointed board member John Dobberteen said the audit and subsequent administrative leave for O’Dell were good for the honesty and sincerity of the process. The process will put O’Dell on …

Nominations and appointments to different boards were made Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board received three new members: John Dobberteen, Don Eaton and Janet Bermingham. Meanwhile, Sturgis resident Tim Carmichael was reappointed. Additionally, the county’s Transportation Authority Board appointees were Allen Balog, Charles Thompson, Bruce Zakrzewski, Connie Stoppenbach, Kelli Tackett, Marvin Schneider and …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the municipality is not in compliance with a state law covering expenditures for non-motorized improvements. Non-motorized transportation is a critical element in the transportation system and increases mobility choices, relieves traffic congestion, reduces air pollution and fuel consumption and promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles, he said. The state defines non-motorized primarily as pedestrians, …