News

A 29-year-old Sturgis woman was arrested last week after allegedly confessing to setting a house on fire in Pennfield Township, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. The incident happened at a home Jan. 3, deputies said. There were no injuries as a result of the fire, deputies said. Calhoun County detectives learned from Michigan State Police in St. Joseph …

An unspecified number of juveniles were taken into custody by Sturgis authorities after the youths caused damage to a number of residential buildings. According to Sturgis Department of Public Safety, officers responded at 10:15 p.m. Sunday to the 400 block of South Fourth Street. Officers quickly located a group of juveniles who were found to be in possession of BB …

The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging, in collaboration with the Branch County Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition, will sign the revised and enhanced “Branch County Vulnerable Adult Protocol” Wednesday morning. The special event will occur at the Branch County Sheriff’s Office. The new protocol uses an inter-disciplinary team approach to address the growing number of cases of vulnerable-adult abuse, neglect and …

Outgoing Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes was recognized last week for his 17 years of service as he prepares to leave the city government position for a new career outside municipal service. Mayor Jeff Mullins presented Hughes with a proclamation, highlighting the economic and infrastructure growth seen under Hughes’ tenure. An open house honoring Hughes will take place 4 to …

St. Joseph County’s 2023 fiscal year budget is down a little more than 1 percent from the previous year. The general fund budget for 2023 – $19.6 million – was approved last month by county commissioners. The county’s 2022 amended budget was $19.8 million. Finance director Angie Steinman said looking at other counties similar in size to St. Joseph County …

A residential development in Three Rivers is included in an announcement made last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer announced funding to help build or improve nearly 700 affordable-housing units across 17 projects from Cheboygan to Detroit. Overall, the total development costs of projects funded is anticipated to be around $176.6 million, will create more than 60 permanent jobs and more than 1,100 temporary jobs. Funding is through the bipartisan “Building Michigan Together” plan, which included …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a snowmobile trailer last week in Calhoun County’s Eckford Township. Authorities said the incident occurred between Jan. 3 and Jan. 13 in the 21000 block of Division Drive. The trailer is described as a blue and silver tow behind Triton snowmobile trailer.

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has announced its employees of the month for November. Sgt. Paulino Hernandez and Deputy Alex Peters were recently recognized for their role in an attempted lifesaving measure Nov. 15. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said Hernandez and Peters responded to a single-vehicle, personal-injury crash at North River and Quaker roads in Constantine Township. The two helped free …

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters said he recently helped pass into law the Inflation Reduction Act. According to a media release, Peters said the law went into effect Jan. 1 and will lower health-care and prescription-drug costs. Among the savings Peters highlighted: · Insulin now costs no more than $35 a month for seniors on Medicare. · All vaccines approved under Medicare Part D are …

A Kalamazoo County man pled guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday for the death of a Vicksburg man. WWMT-TV said Joshua Wessel allegedly killed Ronald French, 71, in June 2017 after an argument in French’s home, according to court documents. Wessel wrapped vacuum cords around French’s neck and dragged him into a field, the documents revealed. French’s remains were found three …