News

Burr Oak’s plan to outsource its police protection was completed Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the village. Less than a week after village officials staged a special meeting to dissolve its department and accept the sheriff’s department proposal, the issue was put in motion with the county commission’s endorsement. The …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the date, times and locations of in-district office hours. Miller will be on hand Monday to meet with constituents 6:30 to 8 a.m. at Dawn and Phil’s Café in Colon, and 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Yoder’s Country Market in Centreville. Miller said listening to the concerns and ideas of people in the district …

A St. Joseph County United Way fundraiser takes place this weekend at Colon High School. The third annual 5K Color Fun Run will be staged to benefit the Five Star Pizza Adoption Fund. Registration is $35 per person and the race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The run is an all-ages event and concludes at Legend Dairy. Registration can be …

A Battle Creek-area prosecutor is dropping charges after the Michigan Supreme Court said a woman convicted of sexual abuse is entitled to a new trial. Lorinda Swain, who served nearly eight years in prison, says the results are “unbelievable.” Calhoun County prosecutor David Gilbert says the investigator has died and the alleged victim has recanted the allegations from the 1990s. …

Southern Michigan Bank and Trust officials said it has not detected a data breach following an incident during which a laptop containing client information was stolen. Bank chairman John Castle said the laptop was stolen from an employee’s vehicle April 10. It is password protected and an internal investigation has found the computer has not been accessed. Its contents include …

St. Joseph County officials have agreed to provide financial assistance to help with a project at a local cemetery. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, administrator Pat Yoder said the county was asked by the Sturgis chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to provide $2,200, to match like financial commitments offered by Nottawa Township and the village of Centreville. …

A seven-year teacher at Hoppin Elementary was named the recipient of the annual Three Rivers Rotary Club’s “Educator of the Year.” Danielle Bent was announced as the award winner last week. Committee members said Bent’s recognition was based on a number of factors, including her continuous encouragement to respect and be kind to others. As an example, committee members noted …

An independent contractor agreement was reached Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agreement with Constantine Fire Chief Mike Haydon is an annual arrangement through the county’s Local Emergency Planning Committee. Yoder said Haydon has been hired the past six years to review plans for businesses that meet or exceed certain thresholds …

A new Michigan law will give people who have lost their driving privileges more of an opportunity to persuade a judge to restore their license under certain conditions. The bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Rick Snyder expands a circuit judge’s authority to set aside the secretary of state’s determination regarding a revoked, suspended or restricted driver’s license. The measure is …

A nonprofit organization plans to analyze a deadly rampage in southwestern Michigan and law enforcement’s response as part of a $65,000 study. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports local law enforcement reached out to the Washington, D.C.-based Police Foundation to ask for a critical incident review that will be funded by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Kalamazoo County and the city …