News

Michigan voters have rejected two state laws that allow hunting of gray wolves in largely symbolic referendums. One measure would have removed the wolf from the state endangered list and classified it as a game species. The other would have empowered the appointed Natural Resources Commission to decide whether wolves should be hunted. The outcome of today’s election voids both …

Republican Bill Schuette has been re-elected to a second term as Michigan’s attorney general.  Schuette defeated Democrat Mark Totten and other candidates in Tuesday’s general election. The 61-year-old Schuette is a former congressman, state lawmaker and state appeals judge. He has campaigned heavily on being tough on crime.  He has supported funding to process thousands of untested rape evidence kits …

Kalamazoo officials have approved a change to panhandling rules to give people seated in public places the right to be left alone.  The Kalamazoo City Commission voted 6-1 Monday to amend the panhandling ordinance the city adopted in 2006. The change protects people in areas enclosed by fencing or gates, such as sidewalk cafes. It also includes people sitting at …

Ten people in Michigan are undergoing twice-daily checks for symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus. Michigan Department of Community Health spokesperson Jennifer Smith said that all ten are seeing health care professionals twice a day to have their temperatures taken and to be checked for other symptoms. She says the individuals are being monitored based on their travel history, which …

One of the two reactors at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Berrien County is back in service. Indiana Michigan Power took both units off-line early Saturday morning due to rough conditions on Lake Michigan that sent more debris than normal into the three 16-foot intake tunnels from the lake into the plant. The excess resulted in some damage to the …

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an investigation into a one-car crash involving an off-duty Sturgis police officer. Investigators are awaiting toxicology reports before seeking charges against the officer. Sturgis Deputy Police Chief Dave Ives said he is aware of the investigation and that after a criminal investigation is concluded, Sturgis will conduct an internal investigation. The crash occurred …

The former administrative assistant of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has pled guilty to a charge of embezzlement. Deb Herring, 57, entered her plea last week in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. She was arrested in July and charged with stealing between $20,000 and $50,000 from the chamber over a seven-year period beginning in 2007. Dates for her …

Three of the four St. Joseph County-based high school football playoff teams bowed out over the weekend in pre-district action. A failed extra point doomed Three Rivers Friday, as the Wildcats fell to Vicksburg, 14-13, in Division 4 action. The game was marred by strong, cold winds that had a negative impact on both teams, according to coaches. On Saturday, …

State Rep. Matt Lori has announced a Michigan Strategic Fund grant that will enable a Sturgis auto-supply company to expand operations and create jobs. Lori said Summit Polymers Inc. will expand its existing operations in Sturgis, Portage and Vicksburg as a result of the $800,000 grant. The company plans to invest $7.3 million into the local economies and create 198 …

The St. Joseph County Farm Bureau staged its annual meeting last week at Sturges~ Young Auditorium. Several awards were presented and recognition given to a number of people. Taya Bower of Colon and David Miller of White Pigeon were recognized for attending the Michigan Farm Bureau Young People’s Citizenship Seminar. Mariah Schlabach of Sturgis received the St. Joseph County Farm …