Business

I & M proposes solar facilities

Indiana Michigan Power plans to seek permission to build five solar generating facilities in the two states it serves. I&M is proposing building the facilities in the Muncie-Marion area in eastern Indiana, around South Bend in northern Indiana and in Michigan, although the locations have not yet been decided. The company says the Clean Energy Solar Pilot Project will have …

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Road project finished

A Sturgis road project that started in March has been completed. City officials said the brick portion of South Nottawa Street has been completed and opened to traffic Friday. As a result, the detour route has been lifted and Pleasant Street will return to a one-way street. In addition, the west side of South Monroe Street will revert to its …

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Public input for decision

Sturgis municipal officials are expected to ask the public for input on whether to sell a piece of park land. Commissioners this week plan to consider ballot language authorizing the sale of Arthur Carls Park to Burr Oak Tool, Inc. The matter will be discussed at Wednesday’s city commission meeting. City manager Mike Hughes said Burr Oak Tool has indicated …

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Police investigating an unarmed robbery

Sturgis police are investigating an unarmed robbery that took place over the weekend at a business on East Chicago Road. According to a department media release, a white male in his early 20s instigated a transaction around 10 p.m. Sunday at the Admiral gas station. When the clerk opened the register, the man grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash. Store …

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Unemployment rises

Unemployment in St. Joseph County rose two-tenths of a percent in May compared to April. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives show the county’s May unemployment figure was 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent in April. The 5.7 percent rate was still lower than the county’s 7.5 percent unemployment compared to the same month in …

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Armed robbery incident

Police are continuing their investigation into an armed-robbery incident Wednesday in Three Rivers. According to police, an employee of Broadway Market had closed the store for the night. As the victim was walking toward his vehicle just before midnight, three masked men approached him. They were displaying guns and demanded his wallet, investigators said. They fled the scene on foot …

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Sales tax frustration

It’s a job killer and it needs to change. That’s the message from multiple Michigan retailers who say they’re frustrated with losing sales to big online stores. They’re taking that message to Washington D.C., asking lawmakers to force online retailers to charge sales tax. Michigan Retailers Association spokesman Tom Scott says if retailers inside the state of Michigan are required …

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Man arrested after robbery

Portage police arrested a 35-year-old Three Rivers man last week after he was suspected of committing an armed robbery in Kalamazoo. The robbery occurred around 10:25 a.m. Friday at the Rite Aid drug store on East Cork Street. A witness was able to get a good look at the suspect and his vehicle, which proved to be helpful, as the …

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Fraudulent credit card purchases

A Chicago man was arrested last week after he was found to be using a fraudulent credit card to make purchases at the Admiral gas station in Three Rivers. According to Three Rivers police, the 45-year-old man was arrested Wednesday following an investigation lasting several days. The case started after a citizen reported fraudulent charges on their credit card, including …

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New business in Constantine

Large crowds gathered over the weekend for the opening of a new business in downtown Constantine. The Constantine Brewing Company staged a soft opening Friday, with a public opening Saturday. Owner Matt Ryan said the 2,000-square-foot business was fully refurbished over the course of the past 13 months. Ryan said he brews his own product onsite and, according to terms …

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