News

A longtime retailer in Sturgis will be closing later this year. Kmart, located on South Centerville Road, will shut its doors in mid-November, said Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings. A liquidation sale is expected to begin Aug. 30. Store closures are part of a series of actions being taken to reduce on-going expenses, adjust the company’s …

Refinery problems at a BP facility in Indiana are already resulting in higher gas prices in Michigan. Gasbuddy.com’s Patrick DeHaan says the refinery issue is causing prices to rise as much as 60 cents per gallon in the short term. The BP refinery is the seventh largest in the country and the largest in the Midwest. And if the wholesale …

A 19-year-old Kalamazoo man and his passenger were injured in a crash in Cass County earlier this week. Sheriff Joe Underwood said Jesus Arrey was driving south on M-40 shortly after 2:30 p.m. Sunday when he attempted to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone near Teasdale Lake Road in Porter Township. Investigators said Arrey indicated he was attempting to …

The St. Joseph County United Way was presented a check last week from Ruth Gaudard, director of external affairs from A&T. Kelly Hostetler, executive director of the local United Way, said AT&T has partnerships in all the communities served by the United Way. Gaudard, meanwhile, said St. Joseph County United Way is doing an outstanding job working in the county …

A vacant house in Constantine Township was destroyed by fire early Monday. Constantine firefighters were called to the 63000 block of Peck Academy Road about 3:45 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the building completely engulfed and collapsing. The home had been unoccupied for some time, officials said, adding that the fire appears to have been intentionally set. Cause of the …

Glen Oaks Community College will be offering two Nurse Aide Training programs beginning this fall. “There are numerous positions available in the county for certified nurse aides,” said Dr. David Devier, Glen Oaks president. “We are trying to help meet the need by offering this course on days and times that include weekends to try to help students better fit …

A Genesee County judge has ruled a father can openly carry his pistol inside his daughter’s elementary school. The Flint Journal reports that Circuit Judge Archie Hayman on Monday ruled in favor of Kenneth Herman and gun rights advocacy group Michigan Open Carry. He filed a lawsuit in March against the Clio Area School District, arguing he was denied access …

A 15-year-old girl from Sturgis was arrested Monday after she attempted to stab a Sturgis police officer. According to a department media release, the officer approached the girl shortly after 1 a.m. at Lakeview and Congress streets, as she was in violation of the city’s curfew for teenagers. The girl started walking away from the officer, and he grabbed her …

A sharp-eyed, off-duty deputy from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department led to the arrest of two of three suspects involved in a home-invasion incident over the weekend. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the arrests took place shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday in the 28000 block of Coulter Road. Underwood said an off-duty reserve deputy observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the …

The Colon Fire Department will soon begin the expensive task of replacing old gear. Last week, it received help toward that goal from Independent Transmission Company with a donation of $650. ITC is the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. Karyn Boyd, from ITC, presented Colon Fire Chief Matt Overholt with the $650 check. Overholt said he had applied for …