News

Removal of a southwestern Michigan park fountain that some say celebrates white supremacy is expected in the coming weeks. Kalamazoo officials say the Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park will be dismantled and stored until a decision is made on where to relocate it. Last month, the city commission ordered the monument removed. The fountain was completed in 1940 …

A southwestern Michigan man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in a police pursuit crash that killed an Indiana motorist. The South Bend Tribune reports 39-year-old James Morrison of Niles, learned his punishment on Monday after earlier pleading guilty to five felony counts, including resisting law enforcement, in the February 2017 crash. Police say Morrison had heroin …

A western Michigan funeral home will host a community memorial service for 30 dogs that died in a boarding kennel fire late last month. Clock Funeral Home of Muskegon is hosting the service April 12 for families to share memories of their pets that died at Storm’s Ahead Kennel in Fruitport Township. Each pet that perished in the March 30 …

For the second time in five months, an infant has been left in a baby box at a northwestern Indiana volunteer fire station. Lt. Chuck Kohler of the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department outside Michigan City said everything worked as planned and he was on scene tending to the baby girl less than a minute after receiving a page Sunday …

A Sturgis school teacher initially charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct was sentenced last week by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Keith Lang was sentenced to four days with credit for time served and assessed $358 in court costs. In February, Lang pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated indecent exposure. As part of the plea …

Area agriculture students will soon gain valuable experience by farming more than 65 acres of ground on the campus of Glen Oaks Community College. More than 60 people attended a dinner meeting in late March to hear about the new opportunity for students and to learn about two agriculture-related programs on campus. Reid Leaverton, Ag Equipment Technology instructor, said the campus …

Constantine Fire Chief Mike Haydon was recently presented with the agency’s 2018 “Firefighter of the Year Award” by Bryan Hughey. Haydon was honored March 18 at an awards banquet at the station. Also honored with service pins were assistant fire chief Mark Moore, 25 years; Trevor Arnold, 10 years; Blake Piper, five years; and John Hofmeister, five years.

A Three Rivers teen will appear in court this week on a charge of armed robbery. St. Joseph County court officials said 17-year-old Austin Palmer has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Palmer was arrested March 19 after he was confronted by security personnel at the Three Rivers Menard’s after allegedly attempting …

A southwestern Michigan man who was shot in the neck with an arrow while searching for deer antlers says he’s not sure if he was targeted or if the shooting was accidental. Michael Downey tells WWMT-TV that after being shot March 25 he grabbed the arrow’s shaft and “held it in place.” He made it to his car and drove for help. …

State police officials are investigating a Calhoun County fatality that is being termed suspicious. Troopers responded at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday to the eastbound lane of I-94, just west of Capital Avenue, where a 59-year-old woman was found unresponsive inside her vehicle. Her car was in a ditch alongside the freeway. Authorities said the woman’s name is Vanessa Wilder, though her …