Government

PROPOSAL 1 The proposal with perhaps the highest level of public interest will legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Under Proposal 1, recreational marijuana would be regulated in essentially the same way as alcohol. You won’t be allowed to use it if you’re under 21 and it will still be illegal to drive under the influence. People will be allowed …

An eight-year mystery into the disappearance and presumed death of a Colon Township woman came to an end Monday in Kalamazoo County’s Fulton Township. State police said Doug Stewart agreed to lead authorities to the location where he buried his wife, Venus Stewart, in April 2010. Authorities said Stewart was released Monday to the custody of state police at the …

Thirteen employees were recognized Tuesday for their milestone years of service to St. Joseph County. County commissioners staged their annual recognition ceremony, which was capped by an emotional tribute to sheriff Brad Balk by commission chairman Dennis Allen. The recipients were 10-year honorees Betty Persons, Commission On Aging senior center coordinator; Tim Hochstetler, building and grounds director; and Joseph Bingaman, …

Santa Fe police say they have made no arrests in a fatal shooting that killed a Michigan man. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the family of Richard Milan, who fatally shot Wednesday night, says he was on a cross-country road trip with his wife from California to their home in Kalamazoo. The 64-year-old man was fatally shot in the …

Three grants were renewed for another year following approval last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The first was a state grant for $173,000 to Community Corrections for a variety of programs and administration-related expenses. Next, commissioners OK’d an agreement making Emergency Management eligible for any number of grants in the 2019 fiscal year. The action is …

Authorities say a police officer shot and wounded a young man who allegedly pointed a gun at another officer in northern Indiana. Lt. Alex Arendt, assistant commander of the St. Joseph (Indiana) County Metro Homicide Unit, says two plain-clothes South Bend Police Department officers spotted a vehicle driving erratically Monday and followed it into the parking lot of a lounge. …

Two Sturgis men were arrested earlier this week on drug-related offenses. According to the Sturgis Police Department, officers stopped the suspects, who were on bicycles and committed a minor traffic violation, around 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of South Clay Street. The subjects were eventually arrested on outstanding warrants and officers also located drugs and drug equipment. Police …

Southwestern Michigan authorities say a man accused of killing his girlfriend is back behind bars after escaping from jail. Kalamazoo County sheriff’s officials say the inmate had been in the county jail’s recreation area on Wednesday when he climbed fences and escaped. He ditched his jail-issued orange jumpsuit after getting free, but was found by authorities about a half-hour later …

An essential component associated with redevelopment of the former Three Rivers Inn was solved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The board approved a resolution to authorize issuance of general-obligation bonds. The result will eventually be $3.6 million to help finance the conversion of the 100-room hotel into Commission On Aging headquarters and 46 senior-housing residences. Attorney …

Multiple agencies responded to a fire Monday at Nissley Disposal and Sturgis Towing – located at the former site of Carter Lumber – just south of Sturgis. The blaze resulted in considerable damage to one of the buildings. The fire was eventually brought under control with the aid of departments from Sturgis, Tri-Township, Burr Oak, Colon and White Pigeon. No …