News

Public schools in Michigan can ban visitors from carrying guns, even if the owner has a permit to possess a concealed pistol, the state Supreme Court said Friday. Under state law, local governments must defer to the Legislature on gun policy. But in a 4-3 decision, the Supreme Court said the law mentions cities, villages, townships and counties — not …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners last week renewed its grant-writer agreement with James Hissong. The employment agreement centers on Hissong providing his services on a part-time basis through June 30, 2019. Commissioners approved a salary of $35,000, and stipulated he provide monthly activity reports at the end of the month and an annual report by the end of June. …

Sturgis City Commission members appointed Travis Klinger to fill the board vacancy created by the resignation of Ina Taulbee. Commissioners took action on the issue Wednesday. The second-precinct term expires in November 2020. Klinger, employed as an RV painter at Coachmen RV, has been associated with the Sturges-Young Auditorium Board and Steering Committee the past two years. Kurt Esseltine, Brandon Kinsey …

The murder trial for Zachary Patton, originally scheduled to begin next week in St. Joseph County 45th Circuit Court, was adjourned Tuesday. Patton was scheduled to stand trial for the July 2017 murder of Shane Richardson. The proceeding was delayed so a psychiatrist could evaluate additional medical records to see if Patten is competent to stand trial. No new trial …

A sanitary-sewer overflow was reported earlier this week in Constantine Township. The incident occurred at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, when a malfunctioning air-release valve caused the overflow along U.S. 131, between Withers and Garber roads. Once the release stopped, the area was vectored of visible liquid and debris by a contractor, and covered with hydrated lime as a precautionary measure. No …

Sturgis Public Schools officials have announced that the original bond to construct Eastwood School has been paid off. The school was built following a 1992 voter-approved bond and opened in 1994 as a facility for fourth through sixth grades. The initial bond was more than $7.5 million, though debt on the 1992 bond was refinanced in 1997 and again in …

A Sturgis woman was arrested on drug-related charges earlier this week. Sturgis officers were notified around 6 p.m. Monday that a woman approximately 30 years old had been loitering in the 200 block of South Street. Officers located the female in question, finding her a short distance away. Through investigation, officers found she was in possession of methamphetamine. Her name …

Centreville Public Schools has offered a contract to Chad Brady to serve as its junior/senior high principal, according to superintendent Stephanie Lemmer. The move was made during Monday’s board of education meeting. Brady replaces Matt Hawkins, who spent two years in the position but has accepted a similar job in Vicksburg. Brady taught at Kalamazoo Public Schools for 11 years …

Authorities say a body has been found that’s believed to be that of a man who was reported missing while canoeing in southwestern Michigan. The Berrien County sheriff’s office says 35-year-old Michael Scott of Kalamazoo was last seen canoeing Saturday on the St. Joseph River with friends. Crews searched the river for him with no immediate success. The sheriff’s office …

Drugmaker Pfizer Inc. plans to expand manufacturing in Michigan and add 450 jobs under an incentives deal approved Tuesday by the state’s economic development arm. The company is expected to spend $465 million building a new facility in Portage near Kalamazoo, with production starting in 2024. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved an $11.5 million package, including $10.5 million in …