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St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough has authorized seven charges against Fernando Mendoza Cruz. The 37-year-old Sturgis man was charged Friday with three counts of kidnapping, and one count for each offense of fleeing and eluding, carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm and domestic violence. He remains in the St. Joseph County Jail with a $250,000 cash/ surety bond. An …

The White Pigeon School Board last week had a discussion about requesting a one-mill, five-year renewal of its 2014 bond. The board has not yet voted on whether to put it on the ballot in 2019. The 2014 bond was used for buses, technology, technological infrastructure and equipment. Should this initiative move forward, money would most likely go toward these …

Troopers from Michigan State Police are investigating a felonious assault by a 42-year-old man who used a hunting knife as a weapon. Investigators were called at 11 p.m. Thursday to the 400 block of River Road in Branch County’s Batavia Township. The suspect threatened to kill his mother. He also kept her from leaving the residence for several hours. The …

Participants in the traditional Labor Day walk across the Mackinac Bridge should expect some changes — and prepare for traffic tie-ups. The 5-mile-long bridge will be closed to vehicles Monday from 6:30 a.m. until noon. Historically, two lanes were designated for vehicles and the other two for walkers. But because of safety concerns, officials decided in 2017 to keep vehicles off the …

Authorities from several Michigan and Indiana police agencies helped in an effort to track a suspect responsible for the issuance of an Amber Alert early Thursday. According to Sturgis Police Chief Geoff Smith, the child-abduction alert was issued after 37-year-old Fernando Mendoza Cruz was allegedly responsible for an assault at his residence, in the 100 block of Pioneer Street. Officers …

Michigan residents should prepare for emergencies and disasters by making an emergency plan with their loved ones and learning life-saving skills as part of Michigan’s “Preparedness Month,” according to the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. Throughout September, the MSP/EMHSD is joining federal, state and local governments, as well as private and public organizations, in supporting emergency-preparedness …

There’s rubber in a road in southwestern Michigan. Nearly 14,000 scrap tires have been recycled on a pavement project on West W Avenue in Schoolcraft in Kalamazoo County. The county Road Commission says the goal is to create a cost-effective and environmentally friendly surface. The pavement designs were created in labs at Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula. The Kalamazoo …

Regulatory commissions in both Indiana and Michigan have now incorporated savings generated by the federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act into the bills of Indiana Michigan Power customers. The Michigan Public Service Commission approved bill credits this week totaling $8.7 million for Michigan customers. The bill credit resulting from the federal corporate tax cut will provide a savings of $3.64 …

Three bats, two in St. Joseph County and one in Branch County, have tested positive for rabies, Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Prevention Services Director Yvonne Atwood said last week. Atwood said more than a dozen bats have been tested this year. Six bats from Hillsdale County were tested, but none came back positive for the viral disease of mammals …

Bill MacDaniels was awarded the Outstanding Service Award at last month’s Burr Oak Heritage Days. The honor goes to a person who makes extra effort to support the village of Burr Oak, said Sue Sturwold, a member of the selection committee. MacDaniels’ community contributions include buying rental properties and making them into quality homes. Several decades ago, when Burr Oak …