News

State police troopers are investigating the theft of a snow plow from a location in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. The incident was reported at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of East Chicago Road. Authorities said the theft of the Boss DXT plow occurred in a parking lot between 1 p.m. June 30 and 7 a.m. July 2.

A smaller-than-expected group of 14 volunteers took part in the fourth river cleanup of the season. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Conservation District, Monday’s cleanup took place on a mile-and-a-half stretch of the Portage River in Park Township. The effort started at Parkville Road and concluded at North Fisher Lake Road. For the first time in the agency’s eight-season …

Three Bronson teens were injured in a single-vehicle crash early Monday in Fawn River Township. Sheriff’s deputies were called at 2:30 a.m. to Plumb School Road in response to a vehicle that had left the roadway and overturned near the intersection of Big Hill Road. Investigators found the 18-year-old driver had misjudged a curve and the vehicle he was driving …

State Rep. Aaron Miller’s bill to allow golf carts for use on the highway in limited circumstances has been approved and will take effect Aug. 8. As a result, Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett told the village council last week it must apply for permission from the state to operate golf carts on the St. Joseph River bridge, and that …

Michigan regulators have significantly expanded the list of conditions approved for treatment by medical marijuana. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on Monday added 11 medical conditions deemed debilitating by the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008. They are: arthritis, autism, chronic pain, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, obsessive compulsive disorder, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, Tourette’s syndrome …

A Jones man was seriously injured Sunday morning while doing maintenance at Bair Lake Bible Camp, located just south of Jones. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke identified the victim as 44-year-old David Stiles, who is reportedly the facilities manager at the camp. Stiles was working on a propane tank when it exploded. He was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital. Due to …

Members of the Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees recently received an update on results of a recent millage study. Paul Hanley, of George K. Baum & Company, discussed conclusions of a mail survey, while Jim Hobart, of Public Opinion Strategies, provided results of a telephone survey. Hanley said nearly 21,000 registered-voter households within the college district received a …

Sturgis city commissioners will interview potential candidates for second precinct commissioner at a work session prior to their regular meeting July 25. The successful candidate will be sworn in and seated immediately to fill the position of Ina Taulbee, who resigned June 8. Applications are due by July 19 to the city clerk’s office. Only registered voters in the second precinct are …

Geoff Smith, director of public safety for the city of Sturgis, recently was named the second vice president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. He was sworn in to the post in June during the association’s summer conference. Its executive board is made up of a president, first, second and third vice presidents, and a treasurer. Vice presidents …

The union representing Michigan state park officers says they should be allowed to have guns and bulletproof vests to handle unruly visitors. The Michigan State Employees Association says officers are in an unsafe work environment because of a lack of training and equipment, MLive.com reported . The union has filed a complaint with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Park officers …