Government

Two people were injured in a six-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said the accident occurred when 43-year-old Armando Bautista, of Dowagiac, was driving south on M-51 in Silver Creek Township. Bautista slowed for a snow plow and his vehicle was rear-ended by a truck driven by 36-year-old Jennifer Laporte, of Dowagiac. The collision forced …

Michigan State Police troopers responded to a report of graffiti sprayed at a residence in Sturgis Township last month. Troopers were called to the 68000 block of Vinewood Street, where the victim said graffiti was sprayed on a garage door. The incident occurred either Dec. 20 or 21.

Cass County Undersheriff Richard Behnke said the local state of emergency has been lifted. Behnke said the order that was declared at 1 a.m. Monday by county board chairman Robert Wagel. After a full day of snow-clearing by the county road commission Tuesday, Behnke said conditions warranted the lifting of the state of emergency. All non-essential travel within the county …

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson said personnel responded to a carbon monoxide problem at a residence where furnace vents were blocked with snow. In light of the recent issue, Tomlinson suggested residents to be sure snow is cleared from around their gas meters, venting and fresh-air intakes are unobstructed, and steps to clear snow from roofs be taken, …

A Western Michigan University medical student has been missing for more than a month from Kalamazoo and now thousands of posts she made on Twitter have been discovered. WOOD-TV reports it has uncovered the posts, which had been deleted, through an archive website and confirmed with Dr. Teleka Patrick’s family that it was her Twitter account. The posts address an …

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in November declined in 14 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market regions. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, jobless rates increased seasonally in the states three northern most labor market regions. Total employment rose in most areas over the month, while labor force levels declined seasonally in the majority of regions. Spokesman …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk has lifted the SNOW EMERGENCY for St Joseph County, MI. Travel is suggested to be of a necessity only. Do not try to travel down a road that is drifted shut. Use extreme caution if you have to be out.

Michigan State Police were called to a one-vehicle crash Thursday morning in Sherman Township. Investigators said 20-year-old Daniel Ryan of Colon was driving south on Shimmel Road when his vehicle slid on ice, left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The incident occurred south of Banker Road. Passengers Amber Dils and Brandy Kitchen, both 18-year-old Sturgis residents, were treated …

Sturgis municipal officials have has declared a city-wide, snow-removal emergency. A  forecast calling for heavy snow and strong winds prompted the declaration, city leaders said. By ordinance, parking is prohibited on all city streets during a snow-removal emergency. Any vehicle parked in violation is subject to being towed at the owner’s expense. The parking prohibition is effective until the snow …

The city of Sturgis has announced its ice rink is open for the season. Open-skating hours are noon to dusk Sunday through Thursday, and noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Open hockey is available 8 a.m. to noon seven days a week.