News

Authorities in southern Michigan have identified a man who died in a skydiving accident as a 76-year-old from Indiana. Marshall police say in a news release that the accident happened about 11 a.m. Sunday near Brooks Field in Marshall. The site is about 15 miles east-southeast of Battle Creek. Deputy Chief Scott McDonald says George Speakman of Angola was found …

Tobacco products and alcohol were taken from a Colon business last week after a cinder block was used to smash the window of its front door. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called early Tuesday to Village Market, where the break-in occurred earlier in the morning. Video surveillance from the store is being reviewed by investigators.

The fourth day of testimony in the Andy Brown murder trial wrapped up Thursday, when the focus was on Brown’s approximate location the morning David Locey was murdered last October. Jurors in Judge Paul Stutesman’s circuit court heard testimony from state police Det. Paul Gonyeau regarding information gathered from Locey’s cell phone. Various cell towers were identified that could indicate …

A 71-year-old South Haven man was in critical condition after he was involved in a motorcycle accident last week in Marcellus Township. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said Jerry Hartsfield was driving his motorcycle north on M-40, where he lost control and the two-wheeler flipped over and into a ditch. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. Thursday near Dutch Settlement …

Colon’s Fourth of July parade drew a few thousand people to the village’s downtown area Friday. The 67-entry procession took about an hour. Awards from the parade include: best overall, to Crow’s Nest Archery and Harness; first place and most original to Colon Community Historical Society and Museum; second place and best theme to Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph …

Three major road projects in St. Joseph and Cass counties will soon be taking place, as State Rep. Matt Lori has announced details of a transportation grant he helped secure. The $3.5 million in grants will be used to improve a 4.6-mile section of M-60 in Cass County at the divided section east of Barron Lake Road. In addition, the …

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation has announced the deadline for grant applications is July 18. Eligible applicants include schools, government entities, and other 501(c)3 organizations within the City of Three Rivers and surrounding townships. Final grant awards will require 25 percent matching funds. Selected grant recipients will be notified by mid-August informing them the award amount that the foundation will …

The city of Sturgis has issued a temporary traffic signal change for the intersection of West West Street and North Centerville Road. Beginning at 5 p.m. Monday, the traffic signal will be changed to flashing-red mode for West Street and flashing-yellow for Centerville. The change is being made as an evaluation period for a possible change to the traffic control …

Alcohol appears to have been a factor in a one-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Constantine Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said a vehicle driven by Dustin Cole, 26, of Constantine, was westbound on Dickinson Road when it left the roadway and rolled over near Blue School Road. The vehicle flipped over several times and came to rest in …

State police report that a missing man has been found.  Police had issued an alert when 81-year-old Paul Fifer of White Pigeon had not returned home.  He was found in Lawrence in good condition.