News

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency board members last week approved a pay raise for its employees, retroactive to Oct. 1. As a result, the agency’s employees will receive a 5 percent pay increase. Meanwhile, health officer Rebecca Burns received a three-year contract beginning Jan. 1, with a salary starting at $100,000 a year. Finance director Theresa Fisher said the state …

Municipal officials in Sturgis recently agreed to buy three new city vehicles. The purchases total about $140,000 and include a cut-away van for the electric-meter department, and two police vehicles for the city’s public safety division. The purchases were budgeted for the 2022-23 fiscal year through the motor vehicle fund. The commission also unanimously approved a quote from LaFontaine Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram …

Authorities on Monday announced an arrest in the unsolved murders of two teenage girls — a drugstore worker who has been living in the same small northern Indiana community where their bodies were found after they went on a hike nearly six years ago. Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested Friday on two murder counts in the killings of Liberty German, 14, …

The centerpiece of a major project on a heavily traveled road in St. Joseph County was put into place last week. Road Commission manager John Lindsey said a culvert measuring 99 feet long, 17 feet high and 21 feet wide was installed Friday as a key component of the Shimmel Road project. The culvert, laid in an east-west direction, sits …

A former lake association president has pleaded no contest to embezzling nearly $30,000 from a St. Joseph County homeowners association. Allan Malesh, 84, entered the plea in St. Joseph County Circuit Court Oct. 24 in response to a charge of embezzlement from a nonprofit organization. Malesh’s attorney, Ed Hettinger, presented a check for more than $20,000 to repay the remainder …

A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle earlier this month in Mottville Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called to the 10000 block of U.S. 12 to investigate the situation. It appears the suspect forced entry into a commercial lot and stole a catalytic converter from a vehicle. The incident is believed to have occurred the night of …

An Elkhart man died Wednesday after the vehicle he was in was struck by a semi tractor-trailer in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 9 a.m. to the area of Old M-205 and Autumn Drive. Investigators said a car driven by Andres Rivera, 24, of Elkhart, turned in front of a semi-truck heading east …

Avelo Airlines made history this week at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. The Texas-based, no-frills airline welcomed its first Florida-to-Kalamazoo flight Wednesday afternoon. Less than three hours later, its first Orlando-bound flight from Kalamazoo departed. Fanfare to greet the departing flight included a ceremonial water cannon salute led by the AZO Fire Department as the aircraft taxied into position for takeoff. …

High school seniors planning to attend Glen Oaks Community College are encouraged to apply for the President’s Scholarship and Dean’s Scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. To be eligible, students must be a 2023 graduate from a public or private high school in St. Joseph County or within the Glen Oaks service area. For the President’s Scholarship, students must have …

A St. Joseph County official is facing several charges after being accused for sexually assaulting a woman more than 12 years ago. Fabius Township Supervisor Kenneth Linn was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting announced Wednesday. Linn, 57, is accused of assaulting the female victim while …