News

A state-champion coach is coming home. Robbie Hatten, who guided Colon High School’s varsity eight-man football team to a state title in 2020, announced this week he is returning to Colon and will serve as its director of student services and facilities. Hatten has spent the past three years in Battle Creek as director of facilities and varsity football head …

An animal rescue and rehab owner is fighting to keep her business open after Schoolcraft Township officials ordered its closure. WWMT Channel 3 has reported that owners of Forgotten Souls and Rescue Rehab received notice last week from Schoolcraft Township officials, alerting them that they have 15 days to confirm the rescue has been discontinued and removed from its property …

White Pigeon Township Library officials said the so-called 104 Project is progressing well. Director Perri Saunders said the library last year purchased the property to its north, at 104 North Kalamazoo St. Since then, the house has been demolished and the property excavated. The library plans to create a fenced greenspace with pavilion and raised-bed garden for library programming. Saunders …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has announced short-term plans regarding its upcoming March meetings. Due to impending renovations at the courts building, temporary location changes have been made for next week’s executive committee meeting and the monthly board of commissioners meeting on St. Patrick’s Day. The March executive committee meeting March 10 will start at 4 p.m. but its …

Firefighters from the Sturgis Department of Public Safety responded to a structure fire last week in the 500 block of North Nottawa Street. According to a department media release, firefighters were called shortly after 4 p.m. Friday and, upon arrival, observed a detached garage at the rear of the residence was ablaze. Suppression efforts successfully extinguished the fire. The adjacent …

An Indiana man was convicted last week on charges that he shot at two people last year in Cass County’s Calvin Township. Britt Weaver, 59, was convicted following two hours of deliberation stemming from a May 2025 incident involving his AR-15 rifle. Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the two people – a married couple – were fishing on Christiana Creek. Fitz …

Alcohol and speed were cited as potential factors in a weekend crash that killed two Kalamazoo County men in northern Park Township. Sheriff Chad Spence said deputies were called at 12:08 a.m. Saturday to the area of Parkville Road and Mint Road regarding a one-vehicle crash. Investigators said a 27-year-old man was driving north on Parkville Road when his vehicle …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office has announced details related to its annual Boater Safety Education Course for 2026. The sessions are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 4 and April 18 at the Sheriff’s Office Training Center in Centreville. Potential participants need only attend and complete one of the sessions. The course is free of charge but limited to 30 …

Officials from First United Methodist Church of Sturgis are hoping to draw renewed attention to its weekly “Clothing Sanctuary.” The church offers free clothing 3 to 5 p.m. every Tuesday and noon to 2 p.m. every Friday. Clothing styles and sizes are available for people of all ages. Anyone wishing to donate clothes is encouraged to consider the weekly drop-off, …

State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey has introduced legislation to eliminate the 24% wholesale tax on marijuana. The tax was created during budget negotiations late last year. According to a media release from Lindsey’s office, Senate Bill 810 would repeal the new tax and revert marijuana taxation to the structure set by voters who approved legalization of marijuana. Lindsey said he objects …