News

Fewer Michigan schoolchildren are getting immunization waivers, a drop that state health officials attribute to a year-old rule that requires parents to first talk with a local health department about the risks of not being vaccinated. Preliminary numbers released by the state Thursday show nearly 8,000 fewer waivers from the last school year, a 41 percent decline from about 19,100 …

State police were called this week to investigate the theft of diesel fuel in Colon Township. According to an agency media release, troopers responded at 9 a.m. Wednesday to the 6500 block of Middle Colon Road, where an unknown quantity of fuel was siphoned from a large holding tank. The suspect’s vehicle is a white, midsize pickup with lettering near …

Two area high school students have been nominated by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton to United States Service Academies. In all, Upton made 16 service academy nominations for the 2015-2016 academic year. The group of young men and women has excelled academically and athletically in their respective schools and have gone through an extensive selection process, Upton stated in a media …

Seven county residents graduated this week from the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program, while other participants were promoted to the next phase of the program. Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, who oversaw the ceremony, called Tuesday’s event a big day for the Swift and Sure program and for the graduates. As each graduate stepped up to receive their achievement …

Smoke detectors were credited for alerting a family that a fire had started in their home early Monday in White Pigeon Township. Firefighters were called to the 68000 block of Sevison Road around 1:30 a.m. They arrived to find smoke coming from the eves and a small fire near the front door. Three occupants, a husband, wife and 6-month-old child, …

The Sturgis Township Planning Commission has approved a site plan that will allow a refuse disposal company to lease part of its former Carter Lumber Company property to a local towing service. Nissley Disposal of Burr Oak received township approval in June to move its operation to the former lumberyard site, off M-66. That approval will allow Nissley to store …

Two Sturgis men were arrested last weekend after a traffic stop in LaGrange County. Juan Aguilar-Reyes, 18, and Anthony Sandoval, 19, were stopped around 8 p.m. Saturday. Sheriff ’s deputies said Aguilar-Reyes has never obtained a driver’s license. A case of beer was found in the vehicle during the stop and both men were arrested for minor in possession. Aguilar-Reyes …

Mendon Community Schools made a minor personnel move during the district’s board of education meeting last week. Board members approved changing the employment status of Pan Cook from part-time kindergarten aide to full-time second-grade aide for the balance of the school year. Mendon alumna and Kalamazoo Valley Community College student Jenna Griffith was subsequently hired as a part-time kindergarten aide, …

Authorities say a second person has died following a series of crashes along snowy Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan earlier this month. State police First Lt. Dale Hinz tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that 54-year-old driver Andrew Griesemer of the Detroit suburb of Northville died Sunday at a hospital in Kalamazoo. His mother, 78-year-old Carol Griesemer of Northville, was a passenger …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission Board has a new chairman. Three Rivers resident Dave Allen was nominated to head the five-person board during its meeting last week. Allen replaces John Bippus, who will remain on the board but in a different capacity. County commissioners last month agreed to appoint Allen to a six-year term to the road commission board.