Government

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke advises that stuck vehicles blocking plows and current road conditions in Cass County are making travel unsafe.    Cass County area is experiencing near-blizzard conditions.  Frequent whiteouts, resulting in slide offs and stuck vehicles are causing dangerous road conditions for traveling emergency crews and road commission plows, in addition to record low wind chills and temperatures adding to life …

The city of Sturgis is continuing its city-wide snow emergency, which went into effect Sunday. Due to the high snowfall level, any vehicle parked on a city street will be towed. By ordinance, parking is prohibited on all city streets during such a declaration. Any vehicle parked in violation is subject to a citation with a fine of $50 and …

A southwestern Michigan police officer who fired five shots at a stolen car has been acquitted of reckless discharge of a gun. A jury in Van Buren County returned the verdict Friday. Chelsey Omilian was a Mattawan officer in November 2017 when she fired at a Chevrolet Impala. A woman inside the car was injured. Omilian’s lawyer says she fired …

Ice was cited as the culprit of a two-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 11 p.m. Friday to the intersection of M-60 and Calvin Center Road. Investigators said Noe Herrero, a 58-year-old Elkhart resident, was unable to stop his vehicle on Calvin Center Road due to the …

With extremely cold weather continuing this weekend and into next week, the City of Sturgis Department of Public Services is asking residents to be conscious of freezing water lines. With the extreme temperatures forecast for at least the next seven days, conditions are suitable for water lines to freeze. In order to help citizens prevent their water lines from freezing, …

Two Calvin Township residents suspected of being involved in a number of burglaries throughout the area have been arrested by deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Richard Behnke said a large quantity of stolen property was recovered from an address on Brownsville Road after the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team and deputies executed a search warrant related to …

Constantine Village Council members this week discussed allowing recreational marijuana businesses to operate in the village. Village manager Mark Honeysett said an ordinance needs to be adopted against it or recreational marijuana businesses can come in if they so desire. Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over, when Michigan voters approved the measure …

A Niles man died on icy roads earlier this week in Cass County’s Milton Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called to a three-car accident shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 12 near Frantz Drive. Investigators said Ryon Koth, a 31-year-old Niles resident, was driving east on U.S. 12 when he lost control of his vehicle. It crossed into …

Sturgis police arrested a 35-year-old Vicksburg man after he attempted to leave a business without paying for several video games. According to a department media release, officers responded at 4 a.m. Tuesday to Meijer on South Centerville Road regarding a theft-in-progress. Store security told police the same man earlier in the week was seen concealing items and not paying for …

A Three Rivers woman was injured in a multi-vehicle accident Tuesday morning in Three Rivers. Sheriff’s department deputies were called at 10:10 a.m. to the intersection of U.S. 131 and Broadway Street. Investigators said a southbound car driven by an 87-year-old woman from Three Rivers turned left onto eastbound Broadway in front of a semi driven northbound by a 73-year-old …