Government

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley is starting a new effort to make Michigan’s Legislature part-time. The Detroit News reports Calley’s Clean Michigan Committee announced Monday it submitted a new petition with revised language to the Secretary of State. The new petition would generally require lawmakers to finish the regular legislative session by April 15 each year. The previous version sought to …

A Michigan man who tried to use fireworks to remove a bees’ nest from his garage ended up burning the building down instead. MLive reports crews responding to the home in Grand Blanc Township on Monday saw fireworks shooting into the sky from the burning garage. No one was injured. Grand Blanc Fire Chief Bob Burdette says the homeowner was …

A 29- year- old Constantine man was in critical condition at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo following a crash over the weekend in Constantine Township. Sheriff ’s deputies said Dustin Cole was driving east on Featherstone Road near Constantine Road around 8:30 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of the car. Cole’s vehicle left the right side of road before the …

Local health officials say there is no concern to the general population for any health-related hazards or risks associated with lingering smoke from last week’s Mottville Township fire. The fire at Green Stream Recycling began June 26 and has affected an area of about 15 acres. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has been in contact with the Kalamazoo district office …

Property owners in the city of Sturgis will see no property tax increase this year. City commissioners last week sidestepped adding nearly a half-mill to hire an additional police officer and a fire marshal. The commission set the 2017 operating tax rate at 10.0285 mills, the same millage levied in the city for more than a decade. A millage hike was …

A former board member and treasurer for the White Pigeon Parks and Recreation Department has been arrested on charges of embezzlement. Anissa Long, 46, was charged after she was arrested earlier this month. White Pigeon police said the current president of the parks and recreation department contacted police in April. In the course of investigation, authorities reviewed banking transactions and …

Constantine Village Council members have approved an ordinance authorizing the use of golf carts on village streets. An operator must be at least age 16 and licensed to operate a motor vehicle, must comply with signal requirements and may not use the sidewalks. By ordinance, the speed limit is 15 mph. In addition, carts are not permitted on the street …

A smoldering mulch pile is suspected of triggering a massive blaze that destroyed a Mottville Township business this week. Investigators remain on the scene at Green Stream Recycling to confirm the source of the fire that leveled the business Monday afternoon. In all, the services of 19 departments – including five from Indiana, eight from St. Joseph County and four …

More than $400 in cash was taken and more than $1,000 worth of damage caused as the result of a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this month in Mottville Township. State police said the crime occurred between 6 and 8:30 a.m. June 16 at Dirt Buster Car Wash. The business is located in the 14000 block of U.S. 12. The culprits used …

Cass County sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident Tuesday in Wayne Township. According to a department media release, 29-year-old John Richey of Vandalia was driving west on M-62 when an eastbound vehicle driven by 19-year-old Donovan Schoff of Cassopolis crossed the center line. The vehicles collided near Twin Lakes Road. Richey, Schoff and a 14-year-old passenger in Schoff’s vehicle …