News

A Sturgis-area man has been charged with second-degree murder following his arrest stemming from a hit-and-run fatal collision last month in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. Authorities said Daniel Silich, 42, was arrested Wednesday. Investigators said he was the driver of a car that struck 13-year-old Landen Risner and injured his 6-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister. The three were on bicycles …

Sheriff’s deputies investigated a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Sturgis man. Randy Caruthers, age 49, died after the pickup he was driving collided into a tree around 5 a.m. Tuesday in Florence Township, sheriff Mark Lillywhite said. Investigators said Caruthers was driving a Ford F-150 eastbound on Featherstone Road when he lost control of the vehicle in …

A four-wheeler was recovered by sheriff’s deputies after it was stolen earlier this week in Park Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were notified around 8 a.m. Sunday that the 2019 Suzuki 500 was stolen from an unattached garage in the 55000 block of Parkville Road. Investigators checked a property in the 21000 block of Pinhook Road and located the …

Recreational marijuana facilities will continue operating in Constantine, as voters decided Tuesday to support a measure retaining that option. By a margin of 396 to 74, voters opposed a request that would have amended two sections of the village ordinance related to the issue. The amended ordinance would have banned all components of recreational marijuana. In essence, the 396 “no” …

Voters in the village of White Pigeon overwhelmingly endorsed a request to renew a millage to financially support ambulance service. The final vote was 102 in favor of the renewal to 26 opposed. The request centered on 0.35 mills originally established in 2017. The fraction of a mill generates slightly more than $11,000 annually and is dedicated specifically to Emergent …

Michigan late Tuesday lifted an outdoor mask requirement except in gatherings of at least 100 people and in organized contact sports, and said teen athletes no longer must undergo regular COVID-19 testing if they are fully vaccinated. Under a revised pandemic order that takes effect Thursday, the state health department also eased outdoor event sizes and said vaccinated people are …

State Sen. Kim LaSata has announced a St. Joseph County venue has been named the inaugural recipient of her “Small Business of the Month” award. Mendon-based Cowboy Up was named Monday as the award’s first recipient. LaSata said she is proud to recognize Cowboy Up as the first winner of the award, which is issued in conjunction with Small Business …

A ribbon-cutting event 13 months later than planned took place Saturday in Three Rivers. The ceremonial gesture marked the official opening of Armstrong Park, an 80-acre development between Main Street and Buckhorn Road. Jared Hoffmaster, vice president of River Country Sports Commission said the 80-acre development, for generations to come, will be at the center of youth athletics and the …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the theft of a motor vehicle. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said the department was notified last week that a blue, 2013 Buick Encore was stolen from a residence in the 26000 block of Fawn River Road in Sturgis Township. The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between Thursday night and …

Two men have been convicted in the 2019 torture-slaying of a northern Indiana woman whose body was found inside a trash bin dumped in southern Michigan. An Elkhart County jury found Donald Owen Jr., 22, and Mario Angulo Jr., 20, guilty of murder Thursday in the October 2019 and killing of 31-year-old Kimberly Dyer at a house in Elkhart. The …