Government

Officials in Kalamazoo have decided to remove a park fountain featuring a European settler with a weapon in his hand towering over a Native American. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the Kalamazoo City Commission voted 5 to 1 early Tuesday following a meeting that began Monday night on the future of the Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park. A plan …

Warrants are being sought for a number of suspects following the discovery of a large-scale marijuana operation last week in Cass County’s Ontwa Township. Members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team served a search warrant on an address in the 71000 block of Stateline Road on the suspicion that the illegal sale and use of marijuana was taking place. …

A White Pigeon woman has been charged with possession of counterfeit money. Dayln Perry, 28, is being held on a $35,000 bond following an incident last month in Coldwater. A clerk at Marshall Street Shell called police after Perry allegedly tried to pay with a suspicious $20 bill. Perry left and the clerk held on to the bill. Officers eventually …

A prosecutor says the fatal shooting of a man being sought by a fugitive apprehension team in was justified. Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said in an opinion released Wednesday to the Battle Creek Enquirer that officers “violated no criminal law” in the Jan. 22 shooting death of 36-year-old Joshuah Prough. Gilbert says they “acted in lawful self-defense.” Prough was shot by …

Hundreds of thousands of Michigan drivers will not have to pay outstanding, extra fees assessed for certain traffic infractions and will avoid a license reinstatement charge under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Snyder. The new laws will also speed up the elimination of newly-assessed “responsibility” fees by a year. The fees were enacted by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislators in …

Michigan drivers may soon have a grace period for displaying a license plate on their vehicles. State senators unanimously approved a House bill Wednesday requiring drivers to fasten and display a registration plate on their vehicles no later than 30 days after the registration or renewal date. The current Michigan Vehicle Code prohibits all driving on the highway without a …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has issued a media release, reminding the public of flood-related information. Sheriff Brad Balk said to not drive on water-covered roads or around barricades. The suggestion is for public safety and to reduce the risk of road damage. Also, Balk said sandbags are still available at the sheriff’s office.

Two people were arrested by White Pigeon police last week. Officers said the vehicle in which the two were riding was pulled over Friday on U.S. 12 near U.S. 131. In searching the vehicle, police located approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine. The driver, a 29-year-old Sturgis woman, was arrested for possession of meth with intent to deliver. The passenger, a …

A former firefighter who confessed to lighting seven structures on fire in Michigan will spend at least six years in prison. Kyle David Norden, 40, was sentenced Monday in Van Buren County Circuit Court to six to 20 years in prison for arson, The Herald-Palladium reported . He was also ordered to pay more than $500,000 in court costs and restitution. Judge …

Constantine schools were under a lockdown for about three hours Monday in response to a student’s threat to discharge weapons at the high school. Constantine Police Chief Mark Honeysett said the department received notice about the potential incident at 11:20 a.m. The threat was made via the social media app Snapchat The school was placed in immediate lockdown and officers …