News

A Michigan man whose hobbies include ritualized combat with replica weapons from the Middle Ages says he wielded a battle ax he calls “my baby” to fend off an intruder. Thirty-six-year-old Ben Ball tells WOOD-TV he was playing video games at his apartment in Oshtemo Township late Wednesday when someone who once dated his ex-roommate kicked in his door. He …

Quick-thinking hunters in central Michigan have rescued two deer who literally became locked in battle. WOOD-TV reports that insurance agent Mark Johnson spotted the rutting bucks in a field with their antlers entangled. He figured the eight-point bucks would die from exhaustion or starvation if they stayed stuck. Video of Wednesday’s rescue on WOOD-TV’s website shows Johnson’s friend, Brad Lyons, …

Zoo officials say a 17-year-old lion that was a longtime fixture at a northern Indiana zoo has been euthanized due to chronic age-related conditions. The male lion, named Tango, was humanely euthanized this past week at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend after his condition suddenly worsened. The South Bend Tribune reports that Tango and his lion brother, Onyo, arrived …

Indiana officials say more baby boxes are coming to the state’s hospitals and firehouses. The Post-Tribune reports that Crown Point added one box last week at a firehouse, making a total of six boxes in Northwest Indiana. Baby boxes are padded, climate-controlled boxes where people can leave newborns safely and anonymously at hospitals or firehouses. Hospital officials say the boxes …

Investigators from Southwest Enforcement Team conducted a search warrant Tuesday to shut down an illegal sale of marijuana. SWET had received information from Sturgis Police Department and residents, and were at Lonespruce on Fawn River Road in regard to marijuana being sold without a license. The investigation, which has run for nearly three months, found that marijuana was being sold …

Sheriff’s deputies recently responded to a larceny incident in Fabius Township. Investigators were called around 4 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a larceny in the 11000 block of Coon Hollow Road. A Generac generator and four solid-wood overhead doors were taken, according to authorities.

Two high school football teams from St. Joseph County will try to remain in the postseason, with tough contests on tap this weekend. Constantine, which has an 8-and-2 record following a playoff win last week over Niles Brandywine, will face off against Hillsdale. The Hornets are 10-and-0 and topped Jonesville in playoff action last week, 48-22. The Division 6 teams …

Two Edwardsburg residents were arrested last week following a high-speed pursuit in St. Joseph County. Sheriff Brad Balk said deputies on patrol at 7:45 p.m. Friday attempted to stop a vehicle for an equipment violation on U.S. 131 in Park Township. The vehicle failed to yield and continued at a speed in excess of 100 miles per hour into Fabius …

Sheriff’s deputies are appealing to the public for help locating the person responsible for a series of larceny-from-vehicle incidents in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, there have been six incidents in the Purgatory State Game Area since Oct. 1. Witnesses report a heavyset, bearded male who stands about six feet tall and weighs approximately 250 pounds might …

Three Rivers Area Mentoring is in need of one or two gently used laptops, iPads or desktop computers. TRAM officials said ideal systems would operate on Windows 10 or newer. No additional software is necessary other than a reliable operating system. The goal is to provide students in its after-school program with tools needed to help them complete homework assignments. …