News

In his 5th State of the State address on Tuesday night, Governor Rick Snyder called on the legislature to help create a “river of opportunity” for those who are struggling in Michigan. In addition, the governor proposed merging two state departments into one large department. The proposal would merge the Departments of Community Health and Human Services into one department …

An 18-year-old pilot in training is counting his blessings after the small plane he was flying crash-landed in a LaGrange County field. Jordan Stoltzfus walked away uninjured after the two-seater airplane crashed less than a mile from his Shipshewana home. The Westview High School senior says he flew from Goshen Airport to Elkhart, performing a couple takeoffs and landings. Stoltzfus …

Here’s a reminder that a trio of community-visioning workshops are taking place in coming weeks to help determine the future of Three Rivers. Community visioning is a planning tool that enables residents, business owners and local institutions to have a voice in the decision-making process of their community. The workshops have been planned to gather information from residents about what …

Authorities plan to crack down on speeding and distracted driving in eastern Kalamazoo County following a 193-vehicle pileup that killed one man and closed a stretch of Interstate 94 for two days. State police Lt. Dale Hinz says there have been problems with speeding and aggressive driving in that area for a while. He says that leads to crashes in bad …

A two-vehicle collision last week on U.S. 131 in Park Township sent an Indiana man to the hospital and closed the northbound lane for more than four hours. State police said a semi driven by Hector Fuentes, of Comstock Park, was heading west off Heimbach Road when he pulled into the path of a northbound U.S. 131 vehicle driven by …

State Rep. Aaron Miller was named by Speaker Kevin Cotter to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, where he will chair the House State Police Appropriations Subcommittee and serve on three additional subcommittees. In addition to the chairmanship of the State Police Subcommittee, Miller will serve as vice chair on the Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee and will be …

A 30-year-old Howe, Ind., man was arrested last week on charges related to criminal sexual conduct. Keith Lewis Jr. has been charged with one count of first-degree CSC, two counts of second-degree CSC and one count of cruelty toward a child. Lewis is accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old child in 2013 at a St. Joseph County home. Additional details …

The Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees last week adopted a tuition-reimbursement policy for employees. The program is aimed to help eligible employees improve job skills and enhance opportunities for advancement. Full-time employees on the job at least a year as a regular-status employee are eligible. Courses must be from an accredited college, university or trade school and must …

A Constantine man was seriously injured in a crash late Friday night west of White Pigeon. According to state police, 46-year-old Glenn Greene crossed the center line on US-12 at Blue School Road, and collided with a semi tanker rig head-on. The driver of the semi, Louis Addington, 51, of Owosso, sustained minor injuries. Greene was taken to Three Rivers …

Kalamazoo County is investigating complaints of Interstate 94 pileup victims who say they had to pay excessive towing and lot fees following last week’s 193-vehicle wreck. The county’s corporate counsel Thom Canny says some motorists report they were charged several hundred dollars when they went to get their vehicles from a towing business. The county has a contract with the …