News

West Michigan Air Care will discontinue its helicopter service at Ascension Borgess Hospital and Bronson Healthcare in Kalamazoo. According to WOOD-TV 8, an email sent to employees from Bronson Healthcare President and CEO Bill Manns cited a 50 percent reduction in flights over the past 15 years, as well as strong ambulance transportation in the region. The email said service …

WGVU Public Media has reported that legislation recently approved by the state senate would require motorists to stay at least 200 feet from snow plows actively engaged in road-clearing practices. Jerry Byrne, with the Kent County Road Commission, said the new bill is not necessarily about enforcement, but about changing driver behavior and keeping everyone safe. Byrne says that while …

The potential addition of a new communications tower in St. Joseph County would correct a long-standing issue experienced by emergency personnel and Central Dispatch. Stacey Bower, St. Joseph County Central Dispatch director, explained the situation to commissioners during their executive committee meeting Tuesday. She said the need is in the southeast quadrant of the county. A new tower to field …

Vicksburg Village Council is looking for someone to fill a term that expires in 2026. The opening was created with the Jan. 26 resignation of Rick Holmes. Village manager Jim Mallery said any village resident interested in completing the term should notify the village clerk on or before March 3. An application is also available on the village’s website. Mallery …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board are gearing up for a public-awareness campaign regarding a millage-renewal request this summer. Registered voters in St. Joseph County will see on the August primary-election ballot a request for renewal of 1 mill to maintain funding of the Centreville-based agency. If approved, the 1 mill will continue to generate nearly $2.5 …

St. Joseph County officials plan to form a committee in an attempt to stem an unprecedented staffing shortage in the prosecutor’s office. During their executive committee meeting Tuesday, commissioners heard a status update from county prosecutor David Marvin. He said the roster of prosecutors is at an all-time low. At full strength, the roster would ideally be five people deep, …

Colon Community Parks Board members are a week away from ordering a new batch of personalized bricks to be placed in the pavilion area by the flagpole at the West State Street park. Cost is $50 for a 4-by-8-inch brick or $100 for an 8-by-8-inch brick. Park officials said people who purchased bricks in the past have done so to …

A homeless encampment in a Three Rivers-area location is being broken up. Nearly a dozen residents who have been living off the land in an area behind AutoZone on U.S. 131 and in the vicinity of Walmart were told Feb. 6 to begin gathering their belongings and moving from the Fabius Township property. According to the Three Rivers Commercial-News, Three …

Members of Colon High School’s class of 2027 are appealing to the public for help in supporting a fundraiser. The freshman class is asking for returnable bottles and cans as a means of raising funds to host programs and events next year. High school teacher Jessica Bowers said arrangements can be made to meet or to pick up bottles and …

A Cassopolis man died in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 7:40 a.m. Saturday to Dutch Settlement Road in an area near Nubour Street. Behnke said 72-year-old Doren Preston was traveling east on Dutch Settlement Road when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and struck a …