News

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, …

Sheriff’s department deputies were called over the weekend to a location in Mendon Township regarding larceny from several vehicles. The incidents occurred between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday in the 24000 block of Prairie Corners Road. Investigators said suspects entered vehicles near a residence, and stole power tools and money.

Organizers of Saturday’s Three Rivers Area Mentoring “Reeling in the Future” event at Corey Lake in Fabius Township said it was the best-attended in its 10-year history. Thirty-four kids were able to partner with a volunteer captain and spend the morning fishing. TRAM executive director Bobbi Schoon said for a number of the participants, the event was the first time …

St. Joseph County is expected to help financially with removing the final remnants of a dam from the Portage River in Park Township. The recommendation was made during last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting. The dam in question is upstream from Parkville Road and is actually almost fully disassembled already. County administrator Pat Yoder said …