Business

Attorney General Bill Schuette issued an alert advising consumers to be mindful of changes to credit card surcharge rules. The AG says that as the new rules take effect, it’s important to make sure that consumers are well-informed. He says, quote, “Retailers are now permitted to charge new fees to MasterCard and Visa cardholders, but they must post notices and …

A group of Centreville residents is voicing opposition to a sidewalk plan in their neighborhood. Nearly two dozen residents attended this week’s Centreville Village Council meeting to voice concern over sidewalks to be built through a Safe Routes To School grant. The $416,000 to help cover the sidewalk-development cost was awarded last September. Comments ranged from the need for the …

Two area residents were involved in a car crash Monday in Lockport Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Carol Sission, 77, of Constantine, was southbound on U.S. 131 when she failed to stop at the traffic signal at Wilbur Road. Her vehicle struck a car driven by 29-year-old Colon resident Amber Laclair, who had the right of way …

A White Pigeon woman was ticketed for being unable to stop within an assured distance following a two-vehicle accident Monday in Sturgis Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Tambra Bryant, 48, was cited after she swerved to avoid striking the rear of a car that had slowed on westbound U.S. 12 in front of Lake Area Veterinary Clinic. …

A federal appeals court ruled last week that a jury should decide whether the rights of a Sturgis resident were violated by officers from the Sturgis Police Department. A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Friday rendered its opinion regarding the 2010 incident involving then-20-year-old Charles Smith over the theft of a phone charger from Walgreens …

Two people were arrested over the weekend after they attempted to leave a Sturgis business without paying for more than $2,300 worth of merchandise. Sturgis police said the two suspects shortly before midnight Sunday tried to leave the Wal-Mart store on South Centerville Road through a side door with a cart full of electronics and other high-priced items, police said. …

An auction of confiscated and drug-forfeiture items by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department grossed about $45,000 in sales Saturday. Staged Saturday morning at the St. Joseph County fairgrounds, the auction included the sale of a Camaro Z28 for $10,000 and a trio of Harley Davidson motorcycles that sold for $11,000 collectively. Nearly 300 people had bid cards and many …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced a six-week road project impacting traffic on U.S. 12 in Cass County. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the agency starting Wednesday will be resurfacing U.S. 12 from M-62 in Edwardsburg to Mason Street in Union, and M-217 from the state line to U.S. 12 in Union. There will be single-lane closures under flag control, …

An 80-year-old Three Rivers man was not injured after the vehicle he was driving ended up in a creek Wednesday in Fabius Township The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Fred Soukup was driving west on Coon Hollow Road when he lost control of his vehicle around 5:30 p.m. and went off the roadway near Ferguson Road. Deputies said Soukup’s …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred last weekend in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, a barn was entered by the suspect and cigarettes were stolen from a vehicle parked inside. The suspect was confronted by a resident and fled the area on foot, westbound toward Correll Road.