News

Sturgis Hospital has been working with Ascension Borgess to take over Sturgis Medical Group. Hospital officials said last week they hope to have an agreement finalized as quickly as possible, hospital board vice president Joe Haas told Sturgis city commissioners at their meeting Wednesday. Ascension Borgess would rent Medical Commons 1 and some of Medical Commons 2, and purchase the equipment. …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education members last week approved TowerPinkster as the architect of record for 2019-20, as the district looks to enter phase 3 of a bond project. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer and board president Jeff Troyer, however, will meet with TowerPinkster regarding concerns the district had in the first two phases of the project, such as drainage issues …

A state police patrol car was struck while its driver was on patrol over the weekend along Interstate 94 in Calhoun County. According to a department media release, the trooper was driving in the westbound lane at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Beadle Lake Road, which is exit No. 100. The trooper had been patrolling a construction zone …

About 39% of Michigan communities that approved a recreational marijuana ballot measure last year have since introduced local bans that prohibit businesses selling pot. Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency issued emergency rules in July giving local authorities six months to introduce bans before it starts to accept applications for business licenses Nov. 1. MLive.com reports that 308 of the 792 cities …

State officials say the 40th cougar report in Michigan since 2008 has been confirmed. The confirmation was made after an image of a cougar was captured Aug. 17 on a trail camera on public land in the Upper Peninsula’s Delta County. Michigan Department of Natural Resources large-carnivore specialist Cody Norton visited the area and substantiated the report. Another trail camera …

A Dowagiac woman was injured after she fell asleep while driving on M-60 in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 9 a.m. Thursday to a location on M-60 near Bair Lake Road, where a car driven by 22-year-old Jaquline Hand struck a semi tractor-trailer. Investigators found that Hand was driving west on M-60 when …

The largest suicide-prevention conference for mental-health professionals is coming up next month. The online webinar is free for mental-health professionals. Live sessions take place Sept. 14 and 15, and are available to stream on-demand Sept. 16 through 29. Presentations will feature a line-up of suicide-prevention experts from around the world. Participants can earn up to 10 hours of NBCC-approved CE …

Members of the Magic City Players are a week away from their second performance of the 2019 season. “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” will feature an all-local cast of talent. Performances are 7 p.m. Sept. 6 and 7, and a matinee performance will begin at 3 p.m. Sept. 8. More information is available through the Magic City Players’ Facebook page.

The city of Sturgis has set an open house to provide information to property owners along possible routes for the radial 69 kV transmission line into Sherman Township. The event is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 18 in Dresser Business Development Center at Glen Oaks Community College. There are three possible routes proposed for the transmission line: • Centerville Road, Featherstone …

A top Democratic lawmaker says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 45-cents-a-gallon fuel tax increase is dead, and proposals such as raising the corporate income tax and taxing heavy trucks must be in the mix. House Minority Leader Christine Greig said Thursday that with majority Republicans vehemently opposing the 45-cent plan, there are alternative ways to raise revenue without having to increase …