News

Michigan State Police are being equipped with a set of new, high-tech “stop sticks” that will be deployed during risky high-speed chases on Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan. The Van Buren County Prosecutor authorized the purchase of the Night Hawk devices at a cost of $2,800 each, using a portion of funds seized through civil forfeiture, Prosecutor Mike Bedford told …

A police task force is investigating reports of shots fired at vehicles along two freeways in western Michigan. WOOD-TV and the Battle Creek Enquirer report Thursday that the first reported daylight shooting occurred Aug. 19 when a car’s side view mirror was struck on Interstate 94 near Marshall. Other motorists have contacted authorities about similar incidents on mostly rural parts …

Authorities say the pilot of a small plane has died after a crash at a southwestern Michigan airport. The plane crashed Thursday evening at Battle Creek’s W.K. Kellogg Airport, killing 48-year-old William Pergerson II. He was the lone occupant. Officials say he took off from the airport, began experiencing difficulty and tried to land the plane. On the second landing …

A Marcellus man was injured after the motorcycle he was driving struck a parked car in downtown Marcellus this week. Cass County Sheriff’s Department officials said Ronald Mikel, 50, was driving east on Main Street shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, when he became distracted and the motorcycle swerved to the right. As a result, it hit a parked car, causing …

The Michigan National Guard has announced it plans to close the Sturgis Armory in an effort to downsize its statewide footprint. City manager Mike Hughes said he was recently notified of the planned closing through a letter from Michigan National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Stone. No date was announced, but Hughes said he expects the closure to occur relatively soon. …

Bruce Harker of the Sturgis Fire Department was honored recently during a pinning ceremony. According to Director of Public Safety Geoff Smith, Harker has been promoted to shift commander. Harker received his pins, and his oath was reinstated by city clerk Ken Rhodes. Harker has been a part of the Sturgis Fire Department since 2000 and a city employee since …

The Next Generation Fund for Sturgis recently awarded grants in support of three community programs and projects. The recipients are: Eastwood School, $200 for the Eastwood Giving Garden; Sturgis Elks Club, $100 toward its annual Back-to-School Clothing Drive; and Doyle Community Center, $100 to assist in providing open-gym hours at no charge for 6th- through 12th-grade students on school-vacation days. …

A 22-year-old Sturgis resident died in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in Florence Township. State police said Jesse Haack was the operator of a vehicle backing out of a driveway on Dickinson Road shortly before 7 p.m., when it was struck by a westbound car driven by Delrico McGee, 20, of Constantine. The incident took place just west of Sevison …

A period of information gathering will begin soon, as the city of Three Rivers and the Three Rivers Public Library consider a feasibility study regarding a new location for the library. Library officials during their monthly board meeting Tuesday said the former Whitehouse Manufacturing building, at the southwest corner of Main Street and Michigan Avenue, is being considered. A plan …

Michigan State University Extension’s Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute has announced Eric Anderson will be the new Extension educator for field crops and specialty crop production in St. Joseph County. Anderson, who will begin work in late September, will work with faculty, specialists, field-based educators and farmers to achieve efficient and economical crop production and overall advancement of the Michigan agricultural …