News

Incompetent to stand trial

The Saginaw man accused of stabbing four people on an Amtrak train in Niles in December is not going to face trial on four charges of assault with intent to murder. 44-year-old Michael Williams was found incompetent to stand trial on Monday by Berrien County Trial Court Judge Dennis Wiley. When he was arrested, Williams told police he started stabbing …

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Ticket resale bill is discussed

State lawmakers are again considering a measure to legalize ticket scalping in Michigan. The measure, before a state House committee Tuesday, would repeal a 1931 state law that prohibits a person from selling sports or entertainment tickets for a profit without approval from a venue operator. Bill sponsor, House Republican Tim Kelly of Saginaw, says it’s a commonsense measure that …

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20-year-old injured in crash

A Sturgis resident was seriously injured in a single vehicle crash Friday night on McKale Road. According to State Police, 20-year-old Paige Baker lost control of her pickup and struck a tree. The crash happened just south of Findley Road.

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Commissioners approve personnel matters

Three personnel matters were approved last Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Tim Barnes was promoted from road patrol officer to road patrol sergeant at $26.81 an hour retroactive to Jan. 27. A salary for Kitty Buchner was also approved. Starting April 1, Buchner will serve as jail administrator as the successor to the retiring Tim Schuler. …

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State Rep. Miller makes county visits

State Rep. Aaron Miller was a visible figure in the community last week. Miller spent the day Friday making public appearances at locations in Centreville and Colon. The 27-year-old freshman representative spent a portion of the morning at the St. Joseph County Health Center in Centreville. Miller was given a tour of the facility and later met with representatives to …

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Trees are available to order

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is accepting advance orders for its annual spring tree sale. Though quantities are limited, the advance sale is on through April 1. Nine different conifers – ranging from blue spruce and red pine to balsam fir – and a variety of eight deciduous trees – including black cherry, red maple and hazelnut – are …

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Home destroyed by fire

A Sherman Township residence on Lake Templene was destroyed by fire last week. The Lakewood Circle home was vacant when the blaze was reported around 5 p.m. A pair of ice fishermen noticed smoke coming from the residence and alerted central dispatch, according to the Centreville Fire Department. Investigators from the Michigan State Police are looking into the situation, but …

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Eagle numbers are increasing

Federal officials say bald eagles reached a record 750 breeding pairs in Michigan in 2014. Consumers Energy reports that many of the eagles trace their roots to eagles that nested near Tippy Dam and other hydro facilities the utility operates along the Manistee, Au Sable and Muskegon rivers. The dams create backwater habitat where eagles can find secluded nesting sites …

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Man shot in Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Public Safety officers are investigating the early Saturday morning shooting of a young man. Investigators say officers were responding to the report of a large fight before 2:30 a.m. Saturday when they found a Kalamazoo man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say the victim, who is in his early 20s, would not cooperate with authorities and gave no …

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Two finalists interviewed for county clerk position

A decision on who will be appointed to serve an 18-month term as county clerk and register of deeds could be made next week. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said the four-person team that interviewed finalists Tabitha Wedge and Lindsay Oswald this week will reconvene Tuesday morning and discuss their thoughts in detail. Stutesman, who is obligated …

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