News

Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula is experiencing a bear boom. The black bear population has risen 29 percent in the region since 2012 and almost 50 percent since 2000, according to wildlife management specialist Kevin Swanson of the Department of Natural Resources. Swanson says complaints about nuisance bears are increasing, especially in the Baldwin management unit, which extends from Muskegon County …

A single-family residence in Sturgis appears to be a total loss after it sustained fire, smoke and water damage early Monday. The Sturgis Fire Department said it was called at 4:10 a.m. to the 400 block of West West Street. Crews were advised by Sturgis Police that all occupants of the residence had escaped. Fire officials arrived to the scene …

Horizon Bank recently announced it is merging its two Three Rivers locations later this year. According to market president Jeff Gatton, the bank’s downtown branch at 123 Portage Avenue will close April 14. All accounts at that location will be transferred to Horizon’s facility at 1213 W. Michigan Ave. Gatton said the Michigan Avenue location is expanding and all services …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the dates, times and locations of office hours at six area locations during February. Miller said he had planned on scheduling meetings with area residents during January, but amended those plans following the birth of his second daughter in mid-January. Miller said he is sorry for the inconveniences the January cancellations may have caused. …

The retirement date of St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Superintendent Barbara Marshall has been delayed. ISD board trustee Elizabeth O’Dell made the announcement last month. The search committee requested Marshall postpone her April departure until June 1, O’Dell said, and Marshall agreed. O’Dell said Marshall staying on board an additional two months will assure enough time is available to …

Police say high winds are to blame for knocking down part of a vacant building in Kalamazoo. Officers responded Sunday evening to the building on the city’s north side and found that two walls of the building had collapsed. No one was injured. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says one of the collapsing walls knocked down a power line. …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a report of a vehicle stolen last week in Park Township. According to a department media release, a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant was reported taken between 4 p.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday from the 20000 block of Moorepark Road. No additional information was availale.

State Rep. Aaron Miller, following his first meeting as chair of the House Elections and Ethics Committee, said he’s looking forward to working on policy over the next two years that brings even more integrity and efficiency to Michigan’s election system. Miller said elections play a critically important role in ensuring government is chosen by the people, and we should …

St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald has forwarded to local media a media release from the Michigan Bureau of Elections. The agency last week released its audit findings for 136 Detroit precincts from the November general election, largely finding that human error, not illegal activity, resulted in mismatches between the number of ballots and recorded voters. Elections staff found no …

A Kalamazoo County Marine Division boat has been renamed in honor of Western Michigan University’s historical football season this year. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the naming of “Bronco 1” was part of a ceremony on Tuesday recognizing the accomplishments of the Broncos’ undefeated regular season. The Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to honor the team for demonstration leadership …