County Information

Members of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education have begun their search for the district’s next superintendent. School officials last month held a planning meeting to begin the process of replacing Tom Langdon, who plans to retire in March. Among those in attendance were Gary Rider, regional president of Michigan Leadership Institute, and Doug Knobloch, senior associate and consultant …

One area high school football team remains alive in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s playoffs. Mendon High School will try to advance to the Division 8 “Final Four” bracket Saturday, when it squares off in a matinee contest against Climax-Scotts. The Hornets are 11-0 and will face for perhaps the final time a 9-2 Climax-Scotts squad. The showdown takes …

Follow-up inspections to a White Pigeon Township trailer park have found the owner did little to bring code violations into compliance since a checkup in August. Township supervisor Don Gloy said an update on the situation was provided at Tuesday’s monthly board of trustees meeting. Gloy said after the Aug. 14 compliance check conducted by the township’s code-enforcement officer Doug …

Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said the county’s 9-1-1 call center now has the ability to receive emergency texts to the three-digit emergency number from anywhere in the county. Behnke said voice calls to 9-1-1 are preferred, as voice calls allow dispatchers the ability to locate from where a call is being placed. But the text option will suffice in …

A 26-year-old Jones woman was arrested Wednesday following a joint investigation by the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team and agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections Parole/Probation Division. The arrest took place at a residence in the 61000 block of South Main Street, where investigators responded to a tip about drug use and firearms in the residence. A search of the …

Equipment failure on a garbage truck resulted in a crash and subsequent injury of its driver Wednesday in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 9:30 a.m. to M-60, west of Calvin Center Road. Investigators found that the garbage truck lost control and left the roadway, overturning in a shoulder embankment. The driver, Jason McGaughey, …

A motorist responsible for the death of a 46-year-old Sturgis man in a traffic crash earlier this year has been sentenced to prison. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman sentenced Paul Michael Middling, 36, of Three Rivers to 20-to-60 years in prison. Middling was driving when his car struck a van driven by Miguel Medina May 4 near …

The Sturgis city commission recently voted to improve “yield to pedestrian” signage at three locations: Monroe Street in front of the post office, Pleasant and North streets, and Jefferson Street. Other intersections have signals. City manager Mike Hughes said it makes sense to consider signage. City engineer Barry Cox said any signage would have to go through Michigan Department of Transportation …

Members of the Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees recently approved an audit of the college. The audit, presented by Lisa VanDeWeert of Rehman Group, featured a series of reports, including federal awards that were expended by the college for fiscal year 2017 and the communication for those charged with governance. In the end, VanDeWeert issued an unmodified or …

A chainsaw and a Honda portable generator were reported stolen last week from a barn in Nottawa Township. State police troopers were called Saturday to the 50000 block of Rambadt Road, where someone entered a barn between Oct. 30 and Saturday morning through an unlocked door. Investigators said the suspect loaded both items into a small, pull-behind wagon and left …