News

Colon municipal officials are considering a new village office. The matter was discussed sporadically last year, but a malfunctioning furnace at the village office has exacerbated the need to find a new municipal office. Village manager Michael Mitchell revisited the issue during last week’s council meeting. He said options explored so far include existing buildings, downtown storefronts and a new …

Mendon Community Schools plans to take up a collection in hopes of making a sizable contribution to a scholarship honoring its late superintendent. Assembled for their first board meeting since the Dec. 26 passing of Roger Rathburn, members of the district’s board of education Monday agreed to stage the collection and turn the funds over to his widow, Susan. The …

Two Colon residents have been arrested on drug-related charges. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit recently executed a search warrant at a residence in the 58000 block of Lepley Road in Colon Township. SCAN members located a number of items related to the production of methamphetamine, according to authorities. …

A Mendon man died over the weekend in a two-vehicle accident in Leonidas Township, where rescue personnel said heavy fog played a role in the incident. Sheriff’s deputies were called at 5:30 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of Summit and Pleasant roads, just west of Leonidas. Investigators said Mark Russell, 60, was driving a Jeep west on Pleasant Road. Meanwhile, …

A Three Rivers resident was arrested after attempting to leave the Sturgis Meijer without paying for merchandise. Sturgis police said the 26-year-old man fled the store around 7 p.m. Saturday despite an attempt by store personnel to stop him. Sturgis K-9 officer Tucky was brought to the scene and successfully located the man in a nearby field. He was charged …

Medics from the Tri Township Fire Department and Lifecare Ambulance personnel treated two Coldwater children who were overcome by exhaust fumes over the weekend in Fawn River Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called at 11:50 a.m. Saturday to Sweet Lake Trailer Park on U.S. 12 in response to two children who had stopped breathing. …

A Michigan doctor who came to the U.S. from Poland as a young child was in jail Monday, nearly a week after immigration agents arrested him at his home. It’s not clear why Lukasz Niec, 43, was taken into custody last Tuesday. Niec is a legal U.S. resident who works at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He has two misdemeanor …

An effort is underway to allow Michigan voters to cast an absentee ballot for any or no reason. A coalition that includes civil libertarians and political activists filed ballot language Monday with the state. If approved, the next step would be a campaign to collect 316,000 signatures to get the issue on the fall ballot. The proposed amendment to Michigan’s …

Cass County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a two-vehicle accident that occurred last week in Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 3 p.m. Thursday to the 17000 block of Chain Lake Street. Investigators said a 16-year old Cassopolis girl lost control of her car while driving eastbound and came upon a patch of ice. Her vehicle crossed …

Quorum Health Resources recently announced Three Rivers Health as a winner of the Excellence in Leadership awards. Three Rivers Health received the award for “Most Improved Performance” in the Under $100 million revenue category. Interim CEO David Shannon said TR Health has increased its operating margin by refocusing its efforts to more efficiently manage labor and supply costs. Meanwhile, QHR …