News

A Michigan girl was able to escape an attempted kidnapping when her brother used a slingshot to strike the would-be attacker, authorities said this week. Mlive.com reports that the Michigan State Police arrested the accused assailant in the city of Alpena on Wednesday. The 17-year-old’s name has not been released though he has been charged as an adult with one count …

An Indiana woman and her son were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Constantine Township. Michigan State Police troopers said the incident occurred Thursday at the intersection of U.S. 131 and North River Road. According to investigators, a 27-year-old woman from Kosciusko County stopped her car on North River Road before attempting to proceed through the intersection. Her vehicle was …

With the end of the COVID public-health emergency this week, the Three Rivers Health Department is no longer offering in-person COVID testing. Anyone still wishing to test is encouraged to use any of the self-testing kiosks. One is located outside at Covered Bridge Healthcare in Centreville, the others are outside the health departments in Sturgis and Three Rivers. There is …

Sturgis City Commission members voted this week to approve the city’s 2023 street rehabilitation project. The city received a single bid by the May 1 deadline, submitted by Northern Construction Services Corp. of Niles. Its bid was for about $720,000. The three segments in the project are South Orange Street from Wenzel to West South Street; South Nottawa Street from …

Pedal Across America has included a St. Joseph County community as a stop on its weeklong, cross-state bicycle tour this summer. Cyclists attempting the journey will arrive in Centreville June 19 and stay at the county fairgrounds. The tour starts June 17 in New Buffalo and continues to Niles before arriving in Centreville. The route will continue into Homer, Napoleon, …

St. Joseph County officials are considering an agreement with a neighboring county regarding year-round disposal of household hazardous waste. During Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, county administrator Teresa Doehring said St. Joseph County is interested in working out a deal with Kalamazoo County, allowing St. Joseph County residents to dispose of household hazardous waste and recycle electronics at Kalamazoo County’s permanent …

Now that the recently charged suspect in the 1988 death of Cathy Swartz has died in jail by suicide, investigators fear questions in the case will never get answered. WOOD-TV has reported that Robert Waters, 53, died on Saturday at the Beaufort, South Carolina, County Detention Center just days before Michigan police were planning to pick him up. WOOD said …

Glen Oaks Community College is offering a program that will give incoming students a jump-start on college English and math. “Ready, Set, Go!” is a down-to-basics program being offered 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 31 through Aug. 3. College officials said the first three days will cover English, math, resources and support services. The fourth day will be a …

The Salvation Army of Kalamazoo County is issuing a final call-out for volunteers to help with an upcoming, annual event this weekend. The National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is Saturday and the agency is seeking assistance to help with collected items. Salvation Army officials will be at the Parchment Post Office on Saturday, then May …

White Pigeon Township Library has announced the return of its popular “Summertime Tunes” music series. Five performances are scheduled for June and July. The lineup: June 21, The Whistle Pigs, performers of crowd-pleasing music. June 28, RockDogs, whose genre centers on classic rock. July 5, Orquesta Ritmo, a band specializing in salsa music. July 12, country/western band Brenda Loomis Band. …