News

Two people were arrested last week following a break-in at a residence in the 12000 block of Riverside Drive in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s deputies said the owner, who lives at a different address, drove past the unoccupied home around 4 p.m. Friday. He noticed a porch light had been turned off and when he went inside to investigate, he heard …

Sponsored in part by state Rep. Aaron Miller, a plan to ensure teacher and administrative evaluations are not unfairly based on student growth and assessment was approved by members of the Michigan State House last week. Since a law enacted prior to the 2015-16 school year, 25 percent of year-end teacher and administrator evaluations have been based on student growth …

The Michigan Department of Transportation is awarding a grant of $252,000 to the St. Joseph County Road Commission to improve North Centreville and Wait roads. Located in Sherman Township, both routes are north of the city of Sturgis and are seasonally restricted roadways serving as a link between U.S. 12 to M-66. According to an MDOT media release, several businesses …

The task of finding a new location for Colon’s village office continues to be a topic of discussion amongst municipal officials. During last month’s council meeting, it was agreed that a committee to further research the issue be established and updates provided at the council’s subsequent monthly meetings. The current double-wide has served as the village’s municipal headquarters for more …

Michigan State Police has announced that Michigan residents with an existing concealed-pistol license can now renew their license online at www.michigan.gov/CPLrenewal. Online renewal requires a personal identification number. In addition, if a CPL holder’s renewal notification letter does not contain a PIN, they may request a new renewal notification letter directly from the county clerk who issued the CPL. St. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller said a plan approved this week by the Michigan House will provide more transparency for voters and enhance the integrity of the state’s citizen petition initiative process. The bills – sponsored by members of both parties – make much-needed improvements to Michigan’s grassroots lawmaking process while boosting accountability and giving voters in rural areas and small …

Employees from Sturgis Hospital attended Wednesday’s Sturgis City Commissioners meeting to seek support in calling for transparency and accountability from the hospital’s top executives. The group of employees included nurses from the Michigan Nurses Association, and members of the Sturgis Hospital General Employees Association and Technical Employees Association. Recent cuts have eliminated the OB unit and approximately 60 hospital employees …

Alcohol is potentially a factor in a single-vehicle accident that occurred earlier this week near Colon in Branch County. State police troopers responded shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Olivarda and Arney roads in Sherwood Township. Investigators said the driver was traveling south on Oliverda Road when she lost control of the vehicle, which overturned and came …

A Jones man is in Cass County jail on several charges after his arrest in St. Joseph County. Sheriff ’s deputies attempted to stop a vehicle and led police on a chase into Indiana, then back into Michigan, where the driver was able to elude authorities. Later in the day, however, authorities located the suspect hiding in a barn near …

Family members of Venus Stewart will finally have closure this weekend (December 15, 2018). According to Schipper Funeral Home in Colon, a graveside service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Leonidas Cemetery. Stewart’s remains were found in October after her estranged husband, Doug Stewart, led authorities to the location in a wooded area south of Fulton. Venus was …