News

Two counterfeit $20 bills were found in a customer’s deposit at First-Merit Bank, according to Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce. The bills have the same serial number and no hologram on the bottom right of the bill. Area officials are advising the public to be especially aware of bills $20 and larger, which have a tendency to surface during the …

Mendon Community Schools has become the third district in the county to raise its full-day pay for substitute teachers. Members of the district’s board of education Monday approved the full-day increase from $80 to $85. The move comes two weeks after Centreville Public Schools took an identical course of action, and more than a month after Three Rivers Community Schools …

The second of two candidates for the position of St. Joseph County human resources director is expected to confirm an interview date this week. County administrator Pat Yoder said the two finalists were chosen from a group of four people interviewed for the post. A total of 26 people applied for the job, which has been vacant since Elishia Arver …

Indiana Michigan Power has issued a media release to help its customers from falling victim to a phone scam. Electric-utility customers continue to be targeted by scammers who falsely represent themselves as company personnel in an attempt to collect money. In most cases, customers are contacted by phone and the caller threatens to cut off electric service if money is …

A 22-year-old man was arrested following a traffic-related incident Sunday. Sturgis police pulled over the driver of a Mustang near on Fawn River Road near South Centerville Road for an equipment violation. The driver of the Mustang attempted to switch into the passenger seat, and during the process, engaged the vehicle into reverse, according to police. The Mustang backed into …

Michigan lawmakers are breathing new life into bills that would force retailers such as Amazon.com to collect the state’s sales tax on Internet purchases.  The House on Tuesday prepared the legislation for a possible vote as early as Wednesday. Similar bills are pending in the Senate after a committee approved them last week.  Retailers with stores in Michigan must collect …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the deer hunting harvest was down this year from last year during firearm season. According to preliminary estimates, the DNR says the number of deer killed appears to have decreased in all regions this year, but particularly in the Upper Peninsula. DNR biologists estimate that the harvest was down about 30 to 40 …

Schoolcraft Middle School was on lockdown for about 90 minutes Monday after a student found a small-caliber bullet in the hallway. According to Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell, the department was alerted to the situation at 11:30 a.m. The school was then placed on administrative lockdown. A search of the building was conducted by school staff, and police personnel from …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Lockport Township in response to reports of malicious destruction of property incidents over the weekend. A sheriff’s department media release indicated deputies were called at 9 a.m. Saturday to the 16000 block of Woodland Drive, where someone used a pellet gun to shoot out the back windows of several vehicles.

Michigan’s House of Representatives last week approved legislation sponsored by State Rep. Matt Lori that makes boating safer on Michigan’s lakes and rivers. A pair of House bills calls for lowering the blood-alcohol content level for boaters from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, the same as operators of motor vehicles. Legislation in the package does the same for snowmobilers and …