News

Motorists who travel on U.S. 131 in Kalamazoo County are being advised of a construction project starting next week. The Michigan Department of Transportation on Monday will begin repaving 6.6 miles of U.S. 131 between I-94 and U Avenue in Portage. The $10.3 million investment includes guardrail replacement, carpool lot resurfacing, new signs and right-of-way fencing, and traffic signal upgrades. …

A St. Joseph County man opened the Michigan House session Tuesday as the guest of State Rep. Aaron Miller. Pastor Bill Beck, of Locust Grove Mennonite Church in Burr Oak, opened the session by offering the invocation. State Rep. and Speaker pro-tem Tom Leonard joined Beck and Miller at the House rostrum.

Two men from Arizona were arrested on drug-related offenses following a traffic stop last weekend in Sturgis. Sturgis Police said a patrol officer stopped a semi-tractor trailer around 11:20 p.m. Sunday in the 200 block of North Prospect Street. Police located methamphetamine and heroin, with evidence of intent to distribute, according to a department media release. A 33-year-old man was …

Sheriff’s officials responded to a report of gunshots fired at a Mendon Township business over the weekend. According to a department media release, deputies were called at 2 a.m. Sunday to Cowboy Up in Mendon Township. During their investigation, deputies were told there was an argument between two patrons. The situation escalated to the point where one of the subjects …

Sturgis police arrested three men Friday night after responding to a domestic assault in the 200 block of Washington Street. Officers around 10 p.m. attempted to take a 32-year-old man into custody, when he assaulted a Sturgis officer. Officers then obtained a search warrant for the residence and discovered a small amount of methamphetamine and a large amount of marijuana, …

John Castle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Michigan Bank and Trust recently announced the appointment of Matthew S. Moses as First Vice President, Head of Wealth Management for the Trust Department of Southern Michigan Bank and Trust. Moses received a bachelor of business administration degree from the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University with a Personal …

The former president of a motorcycle club who was accused of stealing money from a fundraiser for a Kalamazoo police officer who was killed while on duty in 2011 has been sentenced to five months in jail. Fifty-five-year-old Joseph Weeks Sr. of Kalamazoo County’s Comstock Township earlier pleaded no contest to embezzlement from a nonprofit. A no contest plea isn’t …

A building was destroyed by fire last week in the city of Sturgis. According to Sturgis Public Safety Director Geoff Smith, the blaze was reported shortly before 8 a.m. Friday in the 1000 block of North Centerville Road at Lafayette Street. The building was a part of the John B. Simpson Electrical Co. business. Its fire was reported by the …

After years of planning, the $2.6 million Enrichment Center in Sturgis is ready for business following a ceremonial grand opening last week. Located adjacent to the Doyle Center on the east side of the city, the Enrichment Center was praised Friday by county and municipal dignitaries, Commission on Aging officials and dozens of other guests. COA executive director Lynn Coursey …

The vehicle of a 38-year-old Indiana woman was struck by a hit-and-run driver last week in Constantine Township. State police said the incident occurred at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of U.S. 131 and Youngs Prairie Road. The victim, from Middlebury, told authorities her vehicle was struck by a tan sport-utility vehicle. The driver of the SUV pleaded with …