Government

Law-enforcement officials investigating the 2007 case involving the homicide of 11-year-old Jodi Parrack are pursuing a new avenue, thanks to a change in Michigan’s DNA collection law. A 65-year-old White Pigeon man, arrested in August for allegedly assaulting and restricting with a dangerous weapon a 10-year-old neighbor, is not considered a person of interest in the Parrack homicide, said Constantine …

State police have arrested a 52-year-old man in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy at a southern Michigan cemetery. WOOD-TV and WXMI-TV report that the man and boy were in a van stopped about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. The trooper learned during the traffic stop that the boy had been sexually assaulted at a cemetery in Coldwater. The …

Sturgis city commissioners recently voted to repeal Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act, saying the 2011 law took away local government’s ability to regulate consumer fireworks. The law liberalized fireworks sales in the state and limited local governments’ oversight authority. Following the latest July 4 holiday, commissioners had complained about widespread use of loud pyrotechnics in Sturgis neighborhoods, claiming it created a …

The July unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by nine-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 5.6 percent July unemployment rate was higher than June’s 4.7 percent. July’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.5 percent less than the same month one …

Electronic items were stolen from a Colon Township residence last week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Friday to the 54000 block of Correll Road in response to the daytime incident. The victim told investigators he was gone for a 90-minute period and during that time, someone forced entry by kicking in a door to the residence.

A truck-accessories manufacturing firm has received a 50 percent property tax break on a $330,600 expansion investment expected to create five new jobs and retain 25 others. Approved last week by the Sturgis City Commission, the 12-year incentive was offered to Unique Truck Accessories. It is constructing a 10,800-square-foot expansion at 1000 N. Clay St. to increase its manufacturing volume …

Michigan State Police are being equipped with a set of new, high-tech “stop sticks” that will be deployed during risky high-speed chases on Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan. The Van Buren County Prosecutor authorized the purchase of the Night Hawk devices at a cost of $2,800 each, using a portion of funds seized through civil forfeiture, Prosecutor Mike Bedford told …

A police task force is investigating reports of shots fired at vehicles along two freeways in western Michigan. WOOD-TV and the Battle Creek Enquirer report Thursday that the first reported daylight shooting occurred Aug. 19 when a car’s side view mirror was struck on Interstate 94 near Marshall. Other motorists have contacted authorities about similar incidents on mostly rural parts …

A Marcellus man was injured after the motorcycle he was driving struck a parked car in downtown Marcellus this week. Cass County Sheriff’s Department officials said Ronald Mikel, 50, was driving east on Main Street shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, when he became distracted and the motorcycle swerved to the right. As a result, it hit a parked car, causing …

The Michigan National Guard has announced it plans to close the Sturgis Armory in an effort to downsize its statewide footprint. City manager Mike Hughes said he was recently notified of the planned closing through a letter from Michigan National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Stone. No date was announced, but Hughes said he expects the closure to occur relatively soon. …