State Rep. Aaron Miller has been named to the House Appropriations Committee by Speaker Tom Leonard, and will again serve as chair of the State Police Appropriations Subcommittee. Miller also will serve as a member of the subcommittees on School Aid and Michigan Department of Education; Judiciary; and Higher Education. In addition he was named chair of the House Elections …

Alcohol appears to be a factor in a single-vehicle accident involving a Coldwater man Tuesday in Branch County. State police said John Bertich, 34, was driving south shortly after 8 p.m. on Batavia Road near the intersection of Central Road in Batavia Township. Police said Bertich failed to stop at the intersection and his vehicle crashed into a tree on …

Fire destroyed a home earlier this week in Mottville Township. Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday, White Pigeon firefighters were called to a home in the 13000 block of Anderson Road. Flames were coming from the home when firefighters arrived. Officials believe the blaze began on the east side in a living room area. Two residents were home at the time …

Sharon James “Bookie” Buchner, age 94, of Mendon, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 at the Birch Adult Care Home in Leonidas. He was born in Mendon on Jan. 9, 1923 the son of Leon J. and Frances (Bloom) Buchner and was a lifetime resident of Mendon. He graduated from Mendon High School in 1943 and then enlisted in the U.S. …

Carol Kay Hawkins, age 62, of Lawton, died on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born in Ft. Wayne, IN on Nov. 20, 1954 the daughter of the late Arthur and Carol (Davis) Mullen and attended school in Ft. Wayne. For many years she resided in Sturgis and Centreville. Carol’s family was everything to …

Members of the White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education voted Wednesday to pursue renewal of a three-mill sinking fund. The question will appear before district voters May 2. If approved, the measure – originally passed in 2007 and renewed in 2012 – would generate more than $4.8 million over its five-year life. The estimated total of the nearly two …

Investigators with Michigan State Police were called in response to a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this week in Burr Oak Township. The episode occurred between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday at a residence in the 30000 block of Lafayette Road. The victim told authorities jewelry and other personal items were stolen. A department media release did not indicate how access …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering situation in Fabius Township. Deputies were called shortly after 8 p.m. Monday to the 61000 block of Youngman Road. It was determined a number of electronic items were stolen from the premises. No additional information related to the incident was available.

Ervin C. Haithcock departed this life Jan. 23, 2017. He was born to Claude and Thelma Haithcock in Kalamazoo, Sept. 29, 1921. Ervin attended schools in Kalamazoo. He was called into the Army and fought in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. After being discharged, he married Louise and moved to Lansing then later to Three Rivers. …

The new-look St. Joseph County Road Commission headquarters in Centreville and an adjacent barn for equipment storage received high praise during a tour for township supervisors Tuesday. The two projects were at the center of the event, led by road commission officials and board members. It featured a look at the 24,000-square-foot barn and a fully rehabilitated administrative office. The …