News

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 …

A Three Rivers resident died Thursday morning at the scene of a car/pedestrian accident on M-40 near Spatterdock Lake Street in Cass County’s Porter Township. The victim was identified as 76-year-old Shirley Boersma. She was reportedly crossing the highway when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Dale Hoekwater, age 77, of Jenison. Investigators said alcohol was not a factor in …

Michigan State Trooper Erik Gantert was dispatched Thursday at 5:30pm to a two-year-old accidentally locked inside a vehicle for approximately 5 to 10 minutes and was in distress in the 10,000 Block of James Street, Mottville. Trooper Gantert arrived on scene shortly after the initial call. Due to the temperature being approximately 90 degrees, Trooper Gantert quickly broke the driver’s …

More than $738,000 is being spent by the Michigan Department of Transportation for more than 10 miles of M-216 beginning Monday. The new road surface will improve the ride quality and safety, as well as extend the life of the road. There will be single-lane closures under flag control and the estimated end date for construction is Friday, August 24. …

The Michigan Supreme Court has reinstated a first-degree murder conviction against a man who stabbed a woman 29 times in 2014. Christopher Oros killed Marie McMillan, but he claimed it wasn’t premeditated. The appeals court reduced the conviction to second-degree murder, saying there wasn’t enough evidence for the higher crime. The Supreme Court, however, says the Kalamazoo County verdict should …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District crew cleaned 3.4 miles (2.2 of Nottawa Creek and 1.2 of the St. Joseph River) Saturday. The crew went from Rawson’s King Mill Park to the M-66 bridge. Twenty two volunteers participated and gathered the following items from the waterways: 175 pounds of trash, three barrels, four shoes (none matching), a boat seat, toy air …