News

A former western Michigan postal employee has been sentenced to two months in prison for opening mail belonging to other people. WZZM-TV reports 24-year-old Samantha Rose Gentz learned her punishment on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. She pleaded guilty in March to a charge of unlawfully opening mail from the route she worked in Muskegon County. She …

A Michigan man who authorities say was trying to illegally return more than 10,000 cans for 10 cents apiece is heading to trial. The Livingston Daily Press & Argus of Howell reports  a judge ruled Wednesday there’s enough evidence against Brian Edward Everidge of Columbiaville for the case to move forward. State police Motor Carrier Officer Clifford Lyden testified he …

Experts are predicting unhealthy levels of ozone Thursday for certain areas in western Michigan. State regulators say children and people with respiratory ailments should limit their exertion outside. A plume of Chicago air will be hitting counties along Lake Michigan, from Holland to Ludington. Temperatures will be in the 90s in parts of Michigan through the weekend. Some farmers say …

A serial home invader who was confronted by an 11-year-old girl with a shotgun in Lapeer County has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. James Wasson was sentenced Tuesday for a series of robberies. He owes his victims more than $10,000. Prosecutor Tim Turkelson says Wasson finally was stopped as he tried to flee the county in …

A Colon High School graduate has been named the new executive director of the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging. Tim Stoll, 44, was offered and accepted the position Monday. Stoll replaces Lynn Coursey, who resigned last month after a 13-year reign as the agency’s leader. Stoll, a Sherwood resident, said he was excited to be recruited for the position …

St. Joseph County manufacturing companies are having a problem finding qualified labor to fill well-paying jobs, according to a Southwest Michigan First official. But, the situation is not unique to the area, noted Ken Jones, chair of the agency’s Economic Development Corporation Board. Jones provided county commissioners a quarterly update during last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners executive …

Lockport Township officials have decided to seek a 1.5 mill request in November to support fire and ambulance services. At stake will be an additional mill for fire protection and half a mill for ambulance service. The township’s fire mill is currently 0.6 mills, which expire next year. Meanwhile, ambulance service currently is funded with 1.5 mills. Board members last …

Constantine Public Schools has added a new board of education member. Sam Maddox was chosen last week to complete the term of Scott Manning, who stepped down after a work-related relocation resulted in his residency outside the school district. The term expires in November.

Police are investigating a robbery that occurred last weekend at Dollar General in White Pigeon. The man entered the store around 7 p.m. Sunday and handed the clerk a note, demanding money from the cash register. The clerk complied. He left in a 2004 or ‘05 silver Chevy Malibu with a temporary Indiana plate. Authorities said the suspect is a …

Sturgis Hospital announces it will have a FastCare retail health clinic insider of the Sturgis Meijer, 408 W. South St.. The clinic is scheduled to open on Sept. 1. FastCare clinics offer convenient and economical health care for minor conditions and symptoms. Among those seen and treated are sore throats, fevers, flu and colds, ear and sinus infections, pink eye, …