News

The May shooting death of a woman by her 9-year-old adopted son was voted the top local news story of 2019, as selected and ranked by editorial staff members of the Sturgis Journal. The incident occurred May 6 in Fawn River Township and resulted in the death of Pauline Randol. In September, probate court judge David Tomlinson ruled the boy …

Pathfinder Education Center special education teacher Tammy Childs has been nominated for the 2019-20 national LifeChanger of the Year award. Childs was recognized as a LifeChanger in her community for supporting and advocating for her students. She works daily with students who have unique challenges, such as limited speech or mobility, serious illnesses and seizures. Her students are loved for …

State police troopers are investigating the theft of a propane tank from a residence in the 21000 block of Banker Street in Florence Township. The 100-pound tank was taken from the residence sometime between midnight and 9 a.m. Dec. 24. The tank is white and has the words “James Harris Const.” along its side.

Five dogs perished in a house fire last week in Colon Township. The Associated Press reported the family was at a holiday celebration and that nobody was hurt as a result of the blaze. A family relative, Karen Herman, said the family’s dogs died in Tuesday evening’s fire and the family also couldn’t locate their cat after the fire. Herman, …

GT Independence is expanding its operations in the city of Sturgis, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced last week. The project is expected to generate a total private investment of more than $2 million and create 84 new pathway jobs in the long-term care industry over the next two years. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Florida. The …

Sheriff’s deputies were called earlier this month to a Lockport Township field in response to the theft of copper wire. An unknown quantity of irrigation-system wire was stolen between late October and mid-December from an area near the intersection of Fairchild and Constantine roads.

A Lockport Township man has been reported missing. St. Joseph County sheriff’s officials said they are attempting to confirm the whereabouts of Todd Hoyt, age 59. He was last seen Saturday. A resident of the 58000 block of James Drive, Hoyt is 5-foot-7 and weighs about 190 pounds. His physical description includes gray hair, hazel-colored eyes and he has facial …

Two people were involved in a single-vehicle accident Christmas day in Cass County’s Howard Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to a location on Detroit Road, near Barron Lake Road. Deputies said 36-year-old Ikbal Singh of Three Rivers was driving east on Detroit Road when he swerved the car he was driving to avoid …

The Fabius-Park Fire Department this week took delivery of a new addition to its fleet of vehicles. Department officials said the rescue pumper was delivered Monday and will be the primary vehicle when response to a fire or the need for medical service is warranted. Chief Mike Frye said a few in-house modifications to the truck have to be made …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a reminder about kerosene safety, especially for families that rely on kerosene heaters to help heat their home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, supplemental heating equipment, such as a kerosene heater, is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February. Agency officials said kerosene …