News

St. Joseph County Grange Fair officials on Friday announced a new carnival/midway vendor, Skerbeck Entertainment Group. The Fennville-based company will make its St. Joseph County debut at the 2020 grange fair. Skerbeck Entertainment Group will bring more than 28 rides to the 2020 fair, focusing on state-fair-quality equipment with enough variety to appeal to most fair-goers. Highlights of the new …

Cass County deputies responded over the weekend to a two-vehicle collision in Jefferson Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were dispatched shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of M-62 and Hospital Road. Investigators found that 28-year-old Elkhart resident Nathan Herman was southbound on M-62. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Adam Kolker of Cassopolis turned southbound from Hospital Road and into Herman’s vehicle. Herman was transported …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced in-district office hours locations for the month of December. Miller said the best part of his job is gathering input from the people he represents. Miller added that he hopes for a good turnout for discussion on legislative priorities for the coming year. Miller will be available Monday next week at L.A. Cafe in …

A man who served 20 months in custody for a wrongful conviction is suing police. Ray McCann was repeatedly hounded by police during an investigation of a girl’s killing in St. Joseph County. McCann denied any role in the death of the 11-year-old girl but says he felt pressured to plead no contest to perjury. The conviction was thrown out …

A southwestern Michigan man has been sentenced to a year in jail for his 16-year-old son’s fatal drug overdose. Prosecutors accused Gary Birkhead of knowingly allowing his son to use illicit drugs over two years. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in November. Birkhead, a Bangor resident, has been in the Van Buren County jail for months and will have …

A former bar in Burr Oak Township was burglarized last week. State police said a breaking-and-entering report was filed from the former Jorge’s Bar, on U.S. 12 at Halfway Road. Several items of NASCAR memorabilia, as well as collectible knives and other items were taken from the building. The incident is believed to have occurred at some point during a …

An Elkhart man was shot after breaking in to a Cass County residence late last week. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 6:30 p.m. Friday to a home invasion in the 20000 block of Marcellus Highway in Violina Township. Deputies said Jonathon Niswonger, 35, and Shasta Blankenmyer, 34, were at home when the 34-year-old suspect attempted to force …

A Colon man was arrested in Sturgis last week after an incident involving a knife. Sturgis police said officers were called shortly before 4:30 a.m. Friday to the 400 block of West South Street in response to a man with a knife threatening people. Upon arrival, officers were told the suspect had entered Walmart, where he was eventually taken into …

Michigan regulators have approved a 9.2 percent natural-gas rate increase for 300,000 customers of SEMCO Energy Gas. The utility will use the nearly $20 million rate increase to replace gas mains and initiate an infrastructure reliability-improvement program. The Port Huron-based company delivers natural gas to customers in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, including St. Joseph and Cass counties, …

Michigan regulators have approved a 9.2% natural gas rate increase for 300,000 customers of SEMCO Energy Gas. The utility will use the nearly $20 million rate increase to replace gas mains and initiate an infrastructure reliability improvement program. The Port Huron-based company delivers natural gas to customers in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula and in parts of the …