Government

Sheriff investigating break-in

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a case of breaking and entering to a residence in Nottawa. The incident occurred in the 200 Block of 1st Street between November last year and Monday. The suspects stole a Sanyo DVD player, Bose radio, .380-caliber handgun, .22-caliber handgun and a 20-gauge shotgun.

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Camper burglarized

A Constantine Township man disrupted two men who were burglarizing his camper Monday in Constantine Township. State police said the victim stated he was gone from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m., and when he returned, he noticed an older-model, black pickup truck with dual rear tires leave the area in a hurry. The victim said two white males in their mid- …

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August primary election

Last week’s filing deadline for the August primary election shows uncontested races at the county level, but two of the county’s five commissioners will face a challenge in November. First District Commissioner Al Balog is running as a Republican and will be opposed by Democrat Del Martin. Meanwhile, incumbent Rick Shaffer will represent the Republican party and will be contested …

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Man killed in six-vehicle accident

A 56-year-old Kalamazoo man died Tuesday following a six-vehicle accident on U.S. 131 in Schoolcraft. Richard Simmons died after the southbound car he was in was rear-ended at the north end of the village. The force of the collision pushed his vehicle into a power pole just south of West Lyons Street. The car was on fire as it crashed …

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Expanding medical schools in Michigan

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill authored by state Rep. Matt Lori to expand the number of medical schools in Michigan that may receive cadavers that have been donated to science. Currently only Michigan State University, Wayne State University and the University of Michigan can legally receive bodies donated for scientific purposes, Lori said. Under House Bill …

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Two police officers have been fired

Two members of the Battle Creek police department have been fired after an investigation into a relationship between them and allegations of a hostile work environment. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the firings of Deputy Police Chief Jim Saylor and Inspector Maria Alonso were announced Tuesday. They earlier were placed on paid administrative. In a statement, the city said more …

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No injuries reported

The Sturgis Fire Department responded to a fire at Cobalt Holdings early Monday. According to a department media release, at 6:22 a.m., a water-flow alarm was reported from the building, located in the 1100 block of North Centerville Road. Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed smoke emitting from the north side of the building. The fire is believed to have started …

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Three involved in accident

Names of the three people involved in a two-vehicle accident have been released by Michigan State Police. The incident occurred around 12:15 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Drive and U.S. 131 in Constantine Township. Investigators said Patricia VanDyke, 74, of Elkhart, proceeded east on Riverside and into the path of a northbound semi driven by Timothy Miller, 61, of Kalamazoo. VanDyke …

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Pedestrian dies following accident

The victim of a car-pedestrian collision last week has died from her injuries. Mary Hanchon, age 92, was struck at 7:40 last Wednesday morning at the intersection of Millard Street and South Douglas Avenue. She was taken by ambulance to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, where she passed away Sunday.

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Identity is confirmed

An autopsy has confirmed that a recovered body is that of a man who disappeared earlier this month at a Kalamazoo lake. Police said in a release Monday that the body discovered last week is Takashi Sugimori, the husband of a Kalamazoo College professor. He went to the lake to cross-country ski early this month. The 56-year-old’s death has been …

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