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Wildlife officials on Tuesday confirmed Michigan’s first case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced a white-tailed female deer in Ingham County’s Meridian Township tested positive for the contagious and fatal disease that attacks the brains of infected deer and elk. Officials say they will require mandatory testing of deer killed in …

Summer doesn’t actually begin until around June 22, but the “Summer Season” arrived Monday, Memorial Day. This means that gentlemen may now wear white shoes, white shorts, and black socks. Warning: If you do this, you’ll be showing your age. The ladies may continue dressing in any way they wish. They do not need any coaching. Oh, I almost forgot. …

A former Three Rivers High School teacher who has pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor embezzlement, has repaid $17,000 in restitution, according to St. Joseph County court officials. Thirty-three-year-old Sara Freeman, a Burr Oak resident, made the restitution payment before a Friday deadline last week. County Prosecutor John McDonough had set the restitution amount and May 22 deadline …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced it will begin roadwork of a main route between Three Rivers and Centreville starting this morning. A 4 1/2-mile stretch of M-86 will be under construction for about a month from the Grand Elk Railroad crossing to the Centreville village limits. MDOT officials said the project includes repaving, pavement markings, shoulder work and …

Morgan Olson LLC of Sturgis is being considered for a major contract with the U.S. Postal Service. The agency is planning a mail truck upgrade, calling it the “Next Generation Delivery Vehicle.” Recently, Morgan Olson submitted a proposal for the government contract and is now among 15 suppliers being considered for manufacturing the new mail vehicles. In 2017, the postal …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission have approved the sale of three tax-foreclosed residential properties to Sturgis Neighborhood Program. SNP will rehabilitate and resell the properties, returning them to the tax roll. The city agreed to accept $48,000 from SNP for property at 330 W. Jerolene St.; 602 S. Clay St.; and 1002 Greenlawn. The figure is $11,600 below the …

Police say a 12-year-old child was playing with a shotgun at a Kalamazoo home when the weapon accidentally discharged, killing a 28-year-old family friend. Kalamazoo officers responded about 5:50 a.m. Friday following a report of the shooting, which happened while the child’s family slept. In a statement, police described the child as “mentally impaired.” The boy’s grandfather, Daniel Hummel, told …

Two support-staff members were the first victims of Colon Community Schools’ employee-reduction plan. The next wave, which could include as many as five teachers, is expected to hit when the board conducts a special meeting in early June. During Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, district officials agreed to layoff high school secretary Marianne Verner and elementary teacher assistant Stacy Sult. …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Dobberteen said a trip to France earlier this month has given him a new perspective of Memorial Day. During the chairman’s report portion of last week’s meeting, Dobberteen said he has visited a number of military cemeteries through the years, but a stop at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial was unequal …

The first sign of change as a result of county clerk Pattie Bender’s impending retirement was seen last week, as Lindsay Oswald took Bender’s seat at the dais and recorded the minutes of Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Oswald will have two more opportunities to perfect the task before Bender calls it quits June 30. Oswald, a 35-year-old Lockport Township resident, …