News

Michigan is giving school districts more flexibility in making up for snow days this academic year. Districts that had scheduled more than the required 174 days of school can now hold just that number if they still meet the required 1,098 hours per school year. Schools that exceeded the six cancelled days allowed under state law may not need makeup …

Sturgis resident Jerry Rial, 24, was charged with a drug-related offense following his arrest last week. Sturgis police said Rial was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after a search warrant was executed in the 200 block of North Fourth Street, according to investigators. Rial was charged with delivery of methamphetamine. In addition, 19-year-old Andrew Kidd was arrested after officers discovered …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has announced seasonal road restrictions have been lifted. The so-called frost law imposed speed and weight restrictions during the freeze-thaw cycle to help preserve the integrity of non-primary roadways. The frost law was put into effect last month.

Mendon Village Manager John Hyden said the Mendon Downtown Development Authority is offering a $10,000 façade-improvement matching grant. Any business willing to dress up the front and/or rear of its exterior, make improvements such as new windows or doors, or refresh or upgrade landscaping, is eligible for the matching funds. He said three business owners have already hired contractors to …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the case of a 14-year-old Colon-area girl who has been reported as a runaway. The agency said Jessika Mathis fled from the 59000 block of Pine Grove Road in Colon Township Monday. She has blonde hair, hazel eyes, is 5-foot-3 and weighs 105 pounds. Mathis is believed to be in the Sturgis …

Three people were arrested Wednesday in Flowerfield Township on methamphetamine-related charges. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed two search warrants on Floating Bridge Road, which culminated a several-week investigation. The search warrant was for the arrest of a wanted fugitive. The fugitive, a 19-year-old Indiana resident, was wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Sturgis …

Potential action on an ordinance regarding wood-burning furnaces in the village limits could be taken by White Pigeon municipal officials next month. The issue was discussed at length during Wednesday’s village council meeting, where President Dan Czajkowski said he is eager to see the matter put to rest, no matter what direction the seven-member panel takes. He said the council …

One person was arrested and another remains at large following a burglary Thursday morning in Cass County. Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. said deputies were called at 10:20 a.m. to a burglary in progress in the 60000 block of Born Street in Newberg Township. Upon arrival, deputies apprehended one of the suspects after he attempted to flee the scene on foot. …

Police in Kalamazoo say a 23-year-old man suspected in the shooting death of another man is an employee at the sports bar where the shooting occurred. The suspect is expected to be charged with open murder. His name was not released Thursday afternoon. Officers responded about 1:30 a.m. Thursday to Wayside West after reports of shots fired inside. Damian Tejada …

A western Michigan volunteer firefighter responding to a head-on crash in Kalamazoo County struck another vehicle, fatally injuring the driver. The accident occurred Thursday morning as the driver of the vehicle was making a U-turn to avoid a northbound traffic backup created by the initial wreck on Sprinkle Road in Comstock Township. County Sheriff Richard Fuller said the firefighter was …