News

A longtime St. Joseph County Grange Fair employee was let go this week. Missi Tefft, fair manager, was dismissed following a 7-to-5 vote at Monday’s monthly meeting. It came following an executive session that lasted more than two hours and on a motion made by board member Tony Hochstetler, seconded by Gary Clark. Afterward, Hochstetler said he simply didn’t think …

Kalamazoo County Salvation Army is seeking volunteers when it conducts its distribution of winter clothing and Thanksgiving baskets next month. The distribution takes place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11. Oliver Knuth, volunteer coordinator, said the agency is combining Share the Warmth Coat Drive and Thanksgiving Basket distributions into one community-outreach event this year. Volunteers are also …

Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes announced Monday he plans to resign in January after a 17-year career in the city’s top, non-elected position. Hughes said in a statement Monday he intends to pursue another opportunity outside city government. He said it has been a privilege and honor to serve the city of Sturgis and giving up the position was a …

Michigan Department of Transportation officials said Construction of a 6.1-mile stretch of M-60 from Wood Lake Road east to U.S. 131 is continuing on schedule. The $1.4 million project has been using lane-closure control aided by traffic-control operations. MDOT said the project should be completed by Oct. 31.

Authorities on Monday identified three men who were fatally shot over the weekend in northern Indiana, including a 19-year-old suspected gunman who was killed by police. Bryar Wolfe of Fremont was shot early Sunday after exchanging gunfire with police in Angola, Indiana State Police said. Police were investigating the deaths of two men whose bodies were found outside an Angola …

What was supposed to be a 5 1/2-hour rail trip from Detroit to Chicago turned into a 19-hour ordeal for passengers on an Amtrak train that lost power, leaving them without light, heat or running toilets. Wolverine Train 351 left Pontiac about 6 a.m. EDT Friday. Some passengers were so frustrated that they got off the train well before it …

A seasonal resident who has spearheaded a number of local fundraisers recently made a donation in excess of $20,000 to the Colon American Legion. Tim Taylor presented the funds last month to post commander Brett Johnson. He said the Aug. 13 “Magic City Egg Fest” drew 20 cook-off participants and an estimated 800 spectators. Proceeds from registration for competitors and …

A White Pigeon man was injured following an explosion over the weekend in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted to a reported structure fire around 9 a.m. Sunday in the 67000 block of Valley Road. The blaze caused an adjacent residence to explode. The homeowner, 53-year-old Daniel Held, was injured as a result of the explosion. …

Constantine village officials have postponed a decision on Sunday marijuana sales and allowing consumption lounges. The village council last week decided to wait on whether to approve proposed amendments that would permit the lounges and Sunday pot sales, as more than two dozen people spoke at a public hearing. Marijuana-related business owners say expanding Sunday sales would allow them to be …

The U.S. Supreme Court last week said it would hear arguments brought by a deaf man wishing to sue a St. Joseph County school district for failing to provide him a suitable teacher who knew sign language for more than a decade and inflating his grades when he could neither read or write. Miguel Perez, an immigrant who moved to the …