News

Testimony has concluded after defense attorneys declined to call any witnesses in the trial of a Michigan motorist accused of running down nine bicyclists, killing five of them. The defense’s move Thursday means 52-year-old Charles Pickett of Battle Creek will not testify during his trial on 14 charges, including five each of second-degree murder and operating a motor vehicle while …

Two men died early Wednesday in a house fire in the 53000 block of Silver Street in Mendon Township. Authorities said one body was found in the basement, the other on the first floor. Michigan State Police investigators said the cause of the fire is undetermined. Identities of the two men have not been released, pending notification of next of …

Tuesday was the filing deadline for county commission seats, and other local and state positions appearing on the August primary ballot. Barring a write-in candidate, Republican county commissioners Allen Balog and Kathy Pangle will be uncontested. They are seeking two-year terms; Balog represents the city of Three Rivers, and Fabius and Flowerfield townships, while Pangle’s jurisdiction covers Burr Oak, Colon, …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to move forward with a USDA loan application for concourse renovation. The loan is for up to $2.2 million, according to Glen Oaks president David Devier. He said the interest rate for the loan has been locked in at 3.79 percent. Devier anticipates closing as early as next week, and then …

Constantine municipal officials plan to work with the local school district to install a resource officer at Constantine schools on a full-time basis. Village manager Mark Honeysett said he has had conversations with superintendent Steve Wilson and a representative from Michigan Fraternal Order of Police, and plans are to draft a contract to provide an officer for the position. If …

Members of the White Pigeon school board have approved the purchase of new wireless access points. The budgeted item will cost more than $56,000. However, associate superintendent Carrie Erlandson said the district could use E-rate funds for the purchase, so the purchase would have a budget impact of less than $20,000. The district currently has about 75 access points. Erlandson …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has awarded asphalt projects to Michigan Paving and Materials, which will perform work on Constantine Road, a Sturgis Township subdivision and sections of the Tamarac subdivision in Lockport Township. The effort will complete four-tenths of a mile stretch of Constantine Road north to Mintdale Road, and also the section of Constantine Road between Fairchild …

A prosecutor says a Michigan motorist accused of running down nine bicyclists, killing five of them, was driving well above the speed limit and didn’t apply his brakes until striking the first victim. Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Kanaby told jurors in his opening statement Tuesday that witnesses will testify they saw 52-year-old Charles Pickett of Battle Creek driving erratically …

A proposed tax increase to fund additional staffing in its police and fire departments will be at the center of a Sturgis City Commission public hearing. According to a media release from director of public safety Geoff Smith, the hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 9 at city hall. The proposed funding would be used to hire an …

A Newberg Township man was arrested on drug-related offenses following a parole check last week. Along with agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team conducted the check April 17 in the 58000 block of M-40. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered heroin and heroin paraphernalia. The parolee, a 37-year-old man, was arrested on charges …