News

Too many hungry deer are being blamed for the end of a 30-year Christmas tradition in southwestern Michigan. Mott’s Christmas Barn in Vicksburg in Kalamazoo County is closing. The deer population can’t be controlled, and the animals have been munching on trees. Customers have traveled to the farm each year to cut down a Christmas tree. Owner Mardee Mott tells …

The state Supreme Court won’t overturn a decision that grants a new trial to a man convicted in the death of his half brother in southwestern Michigan. The court last week declined to take an appeal from prosecutors in the case of Antonio Lewis. He was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Ivory Shaver, whose body was found …

A 47-year-old Three Rivers man was found guilty on eight charges of sexual-related offenses following a trial last week in Centreville. A jury in St. Joseph County Circuit Court on Thursday found Cary Jones guilty on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting a minor for immoral purposes. Jones was a live-in boyfriend of the …

Three Rivers Health is staging an open house 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at its in-patient rehabilitation pavilion. Located at 701 S. Health Parkway, the facility during its open house will include a number of vendor booths such as Three Rivers Health Stroke Support Group, Speech Support Group, Center for Wound Healing and Outpatient Physical Therapies.

Three puppies and jewelry were among the items taken from a residence in Sturgis Township during a recent break-in. State police investigators said the incident occurred between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 on Balk Road, near Fawn River Road. In addition to the three, six-month-old American bulldog puppies and jewelry, other items taken include money and a gaming console …

Nearly two dozen people, including several members from the Sturgis Eagles, volunteered their time and labor Saturday at Camp Fort Hill. The twice-a-year effort by the civic group resulted in enough wood cut and split for the camp’s 2016 season, as well as a thorough cleaning of its seven bunkhouses for the winter. Camp Fort Hill, which provides day and …

A 28-year-old Elkhart man is in custody after leading Cass County Sheriff’s deputies in a pursuit from Indiana to Michigan over the weekend. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said the pursuit started in Goshen and Cass County deputies continued the pursuit once it entered their jurisdiction. The offender’s damaged vehicle was tracked several miles in Jefferson Township as well as Calvin …

A 27-year-old western Michigan hunter has been formally charged in the death of a mother bear that was with her cubs. Derek Hassevoort of Zeeland waived a October 14th arraignment and faces a Nov. 3 pretrial hearing in Oceana County District Court. He was named about two weeks ago in a warrant. Hassevoort is charged with unlawfully taking a bear, a …

Longtime Sturgis Township zoning officer Gary Bland is being succeeded by two officials who will split zoning responsibilities. The move was announced last week by Supervisor George Morse. According to Morse, Bland’s departure after 15 years was by mutual agreement and follows a complaint filed by a township resident over Bland’s actions in resolving a neighborhood lighting dispute. Trustees approved …

Three members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education were assigned new positions this week. With Waneta Truckey stepping in as board president after Mike Bosma last month gave up the post but remains on the board, Pete Bennett was named vice president, Carl Barth treasurer and Erin Nowak secretary. The new duties were decided Monday.