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A 59-year-old woman was forced from her SUV late Wednesday night outside the Sturgis Walmart. Police said the woman told them a black man, in his late 20s or early 30s, dragged her from her vehicle as she was entering the gray 2004 Chevy Trailblazer. The vehicle was last seen heading north on South Centerville Road. The vehicle has a …

State Rep. Matt Lori announced this week that legislation he introduced, regarding a change to the legal blood-alcohol content for which boaters are considered legally drunk, has passed a vote by the State House Judiciary Committee. The two bills set the legal blood-alcohol content for watercraft operators from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. They also modify sentencing guidelines to make …

Members of the White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education were presented a list of priorities to address if an impending millage renewal is approved. Eric Hackman, from Kalamazoo-based engineering and architecture firm Tower Pinkster Titus Associates Inc., told board members Wednesday that infrastructure-related work at Central Elementary School should take place first. The potential work is contingent on a …

  State Rep. Matt Lori issued a statement following Wednesday’s State of the State speech by Gov. Rock Snyder. Lori, whose jurisdiction includes St. Joseph County, said he was encouraged to hear Snyder put an emphasis on improving public safety in Michigan. As a former sheriff, Lori said he understands the importance of reducing crime in Michigan’s largest cities to …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed to issue an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate to American Axle Manufacturing. The measure means the Detroit-based company will continue with its $102 million investment in its Three Rivers plant, where expansion will include a line to create components for a passenger/crossover vehicle being developed and introduced by a …

Sheriff Brad Balk reports that the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded to a complaint of a breaking and entering of the Nottawa Township Library between 1 p.m. Sunday and 8.30 a.m. Monday. According to a department news release, suspects made entry from the rear of the building by smashing a window. Investigators found that a web camera and four …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners tonight have scheduled a public hearing on a tax-exemption request being made by American Axle Manufacturing. The company is seeking exemption status on nearly $83 million of a $102 million investment in machinery and building improvements being proposed at its Three Rivers plant. A 12-year exemption is being sought by American Axle, the …

St. Joseph County officials will have some decisions to make in the next two weeks regarding the county treasurer position. After their top choice for the post reconsidered the job and decided to continue working at his current place of employment, the duties were passed on to deputy treasurer Vicky Anders until a permanent treasurer was named. The position is …

Fire-protections service for the eastern half of Flowerfield Township will continue to be provided by the Fabius-Park Fire Department. Members of the department earlier this month agreed to a flat-rate deal with Flowerfield Township officials. The $18,000 annual rate will continue the agreement; the west side of Flowerfield Township receives its fire protection from the Marcellus Fire Department. Regarding concerns …

A potential wastewater-improvement project could be one of the recommendations from a company Sturgis municipal officials hired this week to map out a 20-year plan for their infrastructure service. City leaders on Wednesday voted to contract with engineering firm Fleis & VandenBrink to begin the city’s wastewater needs for the next 20 years. The $43,000 study will help city leaders …