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Sturgis city officials have decided to delay action on whether to use a search firm to help them find city manager candidates. Last week’s shift came after the commission conducted two executive-search-firm interviews Nov. 30. Amy Cell LLC and Walsh Municipal Services were selected by the commission earlier in the month for consideration in guiding the city to replace Mike …

Constantine Village Council members have approved a Michigan Spark Grant application in hopes of developing a splash pad. Administered by the Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Spark Grants support public recreational facilities. The village’s Downtown Development Association has pledged $25,000 toward constructing the splash pad. Its estimated cost is $225,000. It would be constructed by Vortex Aquatic Structures. The proposed …

Western Michigan University alerted students to use caution Sunday following a shooting near the campus. The university issued an advisory around 4:45 a.m. to exercise caution in the area shortly after the shooting. Police found a 28-year-old Lansing resident with a gunshot wound to a shoulder after responding to a 4:20 a.m. report of shots fired. Police said the wound …

Wayfinding signs, a block-long social district, in-ground planting strips, rooftop gardens and brightly painted crosswalks were just a few of several ideas presented Tuesday to potentially enhance Colon’s image. The third of a three-part series centering on efforts to make Colon a destination community took place Tuesday at the American Legion. The 90-minute program was led by Michigan State University’s …

The legal case involving former Fabius Township Supervisor Ken Linn appears to be headed to trial. Linn, 57, was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct Oct. 26. He is accused of assaulting a woman while she was physically incapacitated and unable to give consent following an August 2010 golf outing. The victim, who was 22 at the …

A 51-year-old woman was arrested on drug-related offenses following a traffic stop in Sturgis earlier this week. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies pulled over a vehicle at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Meijer parking lot on South Centerville Road. Deputies suspected narcotics were concealed inside the vehicle and requested the Sturgis K9 unit respond to the stop. K9 Odin and …

Risk level – Low Positive test rate – 23.8% Vaccination rate – 45.8%  (percent of total population, completed primary series) (Source:  CDC)

Deaths linked to COVID-19 have now surpassed 40,000 in Michigan since the pandemic began in 2020, the state health department reported. More than 36,400 deaths have been confirmed while 3,676 were probably caused by COVID-19, the state said Tuesday on its coronavirus website. There were 113 in the past week. “Throughout the pandemic, we have seen deaths predominantly occurring in … …

The Mackinac Bridge Authority restricted traffic on the 5-miles span Wednesday after winds in the Mackinac Straits topped 50 mph. The authority just before 5 p.m. said it was allowing only passenger cars, passenger vans, and empty pickup trucks without tonneau covers, bed caps or similar items. Motorists were being instructed to reduce their speeds to 20 mph as they …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said speed-enforcement zones at various locations throughout the county will be in place over a three-month period starting Thursday. State funding has been made available to cover overtime costs related to the enhanced patrol, Lillywhite said, adding the enforcement will also be conducted by state police and local law-enforcement agencies. State authorities said there …