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Five high school varsity basketball players in southwestern Michigan have been charged in connection with reported sexual assaults involving an underage female schoolmate. The boys — ages 18 and 17 — attend South Haven High School and are charged as adults. They were arraigned Tuesday on third-degree criminal sexual conduct and released on bond. A probable cause conference is scheduled …

An embezzlement case involving a Sturgis woman and Sturgis Youth Soccer Organization came to a conclusion recently in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. Tammy Cain was sentenced to time served of one day, and placed on probation for 24 months. As part of a plea agreement, Cain agreed to pay the organization $15,000 in restitution by her Feb. 10 sentencing, …

State police are investigating a recent fraud incident at the Speedway gas station at the corner of U.S. 131 and U.S. 12 in Mottville Township. Troopers were informed an older man using the name Steven Hill had falsely returned more than $100 worth of items to the business. The suspect told the cashier he had already spoken to a manager …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett during last month’s village council meeting provided an update on a downtown development. Honeysett said Darius Jusaitis, who purchased six buildings on Water and South Washington streets in 2015, is moving forward with renovations on the properties. Jusaitis had received a MSHDA community-development block grant for more than $470,000. The project’s cost is estimated at …

A Sturgis business took a critical step last month toward seeking a break on its future property taxes for a proposed $1.9 million investment in building expansion and new equipment. Pete Stemen, owner of Michigan Tool Works, said the tool-and-die company plans to expand its 651 Wade St. facility, retaining 17 jobs and adding two new positions. According to a …

A St. Joseph County community was one of 15 entities across the state to be awarded a grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority through its HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Sturgis Neighborhood Program received $150,000 for its plan to complete two projects within the city, according to the Lansing-based agency. The grants are provided as a means of allowing …

A security precaution at the St. Joseph County Courthouse will go into effect in April, resulting in a full ban on cellphones in the courts building as well as the historic courthouse. Sheriff’s department Sgt. Don Heath told commissioners during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting that the single-entrance measure is about a month from being introduced. Once the single entrance is …

The organizer of a fundraiser to benefit the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County said nearly $1,200 was raised during the one-day event in Colon. Paula Alexander Livermore said “Yoga For A Cause” took place Saturday at her Colon yoga studio with 20 participants. Together, they raised $1,182 for the organization. She hailed the event as a success and …

My Community Dental Center at Maplecrest Plaza in Sturgis is scheduled to open today. MCDC offers dental care at an affordable price, said Pearline Bailey, regional manager. Services cost about 20 percent less than at a private dentist and the clinic accepts all insurance plans, Medicaid patients and residents with no insurance. It provides a sliding-fee scale for the uninsured …

Colon village president Diane Downs said a search committee charged with hiring a village manager will assemble as soon as possible to begin the process of interviewing two finalists. Fourteen résumés were turned in by the late January deadline and Downs said she reviewed them all. Eventually, the list was narrowed to three. One of the three, however, subsequently accepted …