Government

Centreville and Sturgis school districts were successful Tuesday in renewing their respective operational millages. Centreville was asking for renewal of nearly 20.2 mills for a 10-year period. At stake was more than $720,000 annually. Meanwhile, Sturgis Public Schools was seeking renewal of 18 mills over a 20-year period. Its 18 mills generate about $2.5 million a year.

Voters in Leonidas and Nottawa townships agreed to renew millages for separate operations. Leonidas Township voters renewed 1.7 mills for a five-year period for fire and ambulance services. The millage generates more than $1.7 million annually to fund the emergency services. Meanwhile, Nottawa Township Library was seeking renewal of more than 1.6 mills. The millage will be in effect for …

Longtime U.S. Rep. Fred Upton defeated a nurse from Dowagiac in the 6th District GOP primary in southwestern Michigan.  The 61-year-old Upton of St. Joseph defeated 46-year-old Jim Bussler in Tuesday’s primary. Upton has been in the House since 1987 and was widely considered a shoo-in to win the primary.  Before his election to Congress, Upton was director of legislative …

Michigan voters have passed Proposal 1, the only statewide ballot question in Tuesday’s election, meaning the phase-out of Michigan’s personal property tax on business will continue. Proposal 1 would gradually eliminate the personal property tax that some companies pay on equipment or machinery. The PPT was a source of revenue for many local communities, but Michigan’s general fund would partially …

A Honduras citizen sustained critical injuries in a single car crash Sunday evening on Maystead Road in Burr Oak Township. 24-year-old Walther Castro-Ramirez lost control of his van and hit a tree. He was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center.

A Colon man was seriously injured in a one car crash Sunday evening on Colon Road, west of Deno Road in Colon Township. Joshua Shank, age 18, reportedly fell asleep, went off the road, and overturned his vehicle. He was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital for treatment.

 Here’s a reminder that the St. Joseph County National Night Out event will take place in Sturgis this year. The annual event will run 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday (August 5th) on the east lawn at Sturgis High School. The event kicks off with a silent parade heading east on Chicago Road from Centreville Road to the high school at …

A St. Joseph County Sheriff’s sergeant was involved in a hit and run crash Saturday evening on Shimmel road near Mintdale Road. 22-year-old Stephen Stockwell of Sturgis allegedly struck the patrol car and fled eastbound on Mintdale. He reportedly ran several stop signs and struck a guard rail. When Stockwell was taken into custody, a meth lab was reportedly found …

  The family of David Locey has issued a statement regarding last month’s conviction of Andy Brown in Locey’s 2013 shooting death. The statement, prepared by Locey’s four children, said in an instant, one horrific action robbed an entire community of a husband, a father, a stepfather, a grandfather, a brother, a boss, a friend and leader. The family expressed …

  Cass County law-enforcement officials have called off their search for a woman missing since last week. Dowagiac police said 25-year-old Rose Morris is voluntarily missing and as a result, police are no longer involved in the case. Morris, a Dowagiac resident, was last seen after meeting with friends at a house in Dowagiac. She left the residence around 11:30 …