News

A Three Rivers native is one of Michigan State Police’s newly hired troopers. Alex Sussdorf will soon report to work after graduating last week from the 135th Trooper Recruit School. Sussdorf is assigned to the Niles post, which covers Berrien and Cass counties. The Marshall post, which serves St. Joseph, Branch and Calhoun counties, will obtain five of the newest …

Michigan’s fishing season is underway, which means it’s time to renew your license if you haven’t already done so. The state Department of Natural Resources says all 2019 fishing licenses are good for all species and are valid through March 31, 2020. Anglers can choose from eight options. The resident annual license costs $26. The nonresident annual license sells for …

Four people were hurt in a two-car crash Wednesday on Banker Street, just east of Sevison Road, in Florence Township. Troopers from Michigan State Police were called at 4:38 p.m. in response to a head-on collision between a westbound Chevy Monte Carlo and an eastbound Ford Ranger. According to a department media release, the Monte Carlo was driven by a 48-year-old …

An authority in Michigan’s cannabis laws addressed the Constantine Village Council this week. Sam Pernick, a representative of Green Michigan Partners, outlined Michigan’s current cannabis laws to the council and how the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act builds on prior marijuana law in Michigan. Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over …

Centreville Downtown Development Authority has appointed Pattie Bender as its program manager. During a recent Centreville Village Council meeting, its members accepted Bender’s resignation from the DDA board as well as her appointment as an alternate to the zoning board of appeals. The board also appointed Carol Snow-Penn and Vicki Allen as alternates to the zoning board of appeals. In …

Officers in western Michigan have fatally shot a man who threatened them during an attempted arrest. Michigan State Police say 37-year-old Thomas Verile Jr. of Scotts was shot Thursday morning at a home outside Kalamazoo after he threatened officers, saying he had a weapon. Police said in a news release that preliminary information indicated several officers fired shots at Verile, …

The leader of a group opposed to the location of a solar-panel development in Mendon Township is spearheading a campaign to have the proposal put before township voters. Kayleen Grand’s effort comes after Mendon Township Board members on Tuesday approved an ordinance that gives a green light to a solar-panel development. Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy is behind the White Pine Solar …

Nominations to three different boards were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Michael Wilson and Cathy Knapp were named alternate appointments to the Workforce Development Board for Michigan Works Southwest. The terms end Sept. 30 next year. Seven people were re-appointed to the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority Board. They are: Allen Balog, Charles Thompson, Sarah …

Organizers of an annual community festival in Centreville were given some good news Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a request to use the courthouse property for the two-day Covered Bridge Days. The annual celebration of the village that serves as the county seat is July 12 and 13. The festival for many years has used the …

A Cass County resident and Westside Landfill employee has been recognized by Waste Management as “Heavy-Equipment Operator of the Year.” Harold Douglas Norton of Jones won the title for the 45,000-employee company. Norton began working for Meyer Brothers Construction the day after he graduated from high school. When the Meyers bought the landfill, he began working there, and stayed on …