News

The first of two suspects accused of murdering a 74-year-old Kalamazoo antiques dealer last summer has been sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without chance of parole. A Kalamazoo County Circuit Court jury in February convicted 21-year old Antonio Livingston of first-degree murder, felony murder, assault with intent to rob and first-degree home invasion. Livingston and 52-year …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission have authorized an upgrade of residential water meters. City officials estimate more than 1,300 meters will be upgraded in order to make it easier to read water meters and quickly identify leaks. Between installation and materials, the measure will cost just under $330,000. The city has been budgeting for …

White Pigeon municipal officials have sold the former village office and adjacent parking lot. The deal was announced last week after the village had previously announced it was accepting bids for the building and property. Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene submitted a $14,000 bid for the parcel, at 118 S. Kalamazoo St. The church, which operates in a building just …

A 90-year-old White Pigeon man was issued a citation last week after he drove into a moving, horse-drawn buggy in White Pigeon Township. State police investigators said the man was driving east on Fawn River Road when he ran into the back of the buggy near the intersection of Aldrich Lake Road at 9:45 a.m. Friday. The 35-year-old driver of …

Only minor injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident last week in Sturgis Township. A media release from the Michigan State Police stated 27-year-old Amanda Horning, of Sturgis, turned left in front of a westbound car on U.S. 12. The incident, which took place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, occurred in front of the Hillcrest Lounge. The 43-year-old driver of the …

Gary Wheeler, the president of Glen Oaks Community College since 2007, said he will not seek a new contract when his current agreement expires in two years. The 61-year-old Wheeler announced at Wednesday’s Glen Oaks Board of Trustees meeting he will retire after his contract ends at the end of June 2015. Wheeler’s request was approved by board members. Wheeler …

A meeting to discuss a “rail-to-trail” proposal between St. Joseph and Branch counties drew more than 100 people to Sturgis Tuesday. The majority of the crowd opposed the plan, which calls for utilizing a rail bed between Sturgis and Coldwater to promote walking, jogging and bicycling. Though a cost to develop the trail has not been set, its creation would …

Four awards were presented during Wednesday’s 65th St. Joseph County Conservation District annual meeting. A committee of Conservation District officials chose Mendon Township residents Roger and Ann Gentz as recipients of the Soil and Water Steward award. The couple last year was Environmentally Verified through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. Flowerfield Township farmer Mark Proxmire was presented the Livestock …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police at White Pigeon detachment are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death of a White Pigeon man on the job last weekend. Robert Knight, 61, was a 25-year veteran at White Pigeon Paper Mill. He died Sunday morning after falling into machinery at the plant. Investigators are trying to determine if Knight …

The Centreville Village Council is one person short after longtime trustee Christine Sheteron turned in her resignation this week. Sheteron, 44, submitted a letter Monday to the village council. In it, she indicated she has no interest in working for what she called a non-working and uncooperative body of elected officials and community members. Sheteron did not elaborate on specific …