Recent Posts

Police believe dispensary break-in similar to other incidents

Two suspects in the attempted breaking-and-entering of a marijuana dispensary in Calhoun County are believed to be the same men involved in other, similar break-ins – including a location in Branch County. State police said the latest incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. May 25 at Aim High dispensary in Tekonsha Township. The suspects are black and, according to security-camera footage, …

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Sen. Peters describes benefits of Postal Service Reform Act

U.S. Senator Gary Peters said the Postal Service Reform Act – which Peters helped champion – will save the agency nearly $50 billion and put it on stable footing. Peters said the act was signed into law in 2022 and marks the agency’s first reforms in more than 15 years. The measure requires the Postal Service to deliver mail six …

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Sheriff’s department hopes public can help in case of missing woman

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the agency is appealing to the public in hopes of securing information related to the whereabouts of a 73-year-old woman. Bingaman said sheriff’s deputies, its mounted patrol and reserves, representatives from local fire departments, volunteers, Southern Michigan K9 Search and Response, Michigan State Police aviation division and Great Lakes Drone Company all joined …

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MDOT to begin projects in Cass and Van Buren counties

Michigan Department of Transportation has announced two road-construction projects will start next week in Cass and Van Buren counties. Agency officials said a section of M-40 in Cass County and a portion of M-152 in Van Buren County will be subject to crack-filling and resurfacing beginning Monday and continuing through July 28. Specifically, the M-40 portion will take place from …

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Kalamazoo County receives tick test results

The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department received test results from blacklegged ticks submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last October. Out of the 76 blacklegged ticks captured and identified earlier that year, 22 tested positive for Lyme Disease—which can spread to the heart, nervous system and joints if left untreated. Vector-borne disease surveillance – such as …

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Search continues for missing woman

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its search for an elderly woman who has Alzheimer’s and dementia. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said deputies were notified Monday about a missing 73-year-old woman. Marilee Furlong left her daughter’s residence on Flatbush Road, in the Three Rivers area, around 9 a.m. Furlong was last seen wearing red, long-sleeved pajamas, and is believed to …

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Central dispatch welcomes advocate dog

St. Joseph County’s newest employee was at the center of a welcome event Tuesday at Central Dispatch. A reception to welcome Bolo, a 2-year-old black poodle, took place at the Centreville-based agency. Central Dispatch Executive Director Stacey Bower said donations from businesses, civic groups and individuals covered the $6,500 for training and purchase of the advocate dog. It will live …

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KeyBank in Sturgis to close

The Sturgis branch of KeyBank, a longtime financial institution in town, is closing later this summer. The bank’s doors will be locked at 3 p.m. Aug. 11, while the ATM will cease operations at 8 a.m. the same day. Sturgis KeyBank customers are being directed to the branch in Bristol, Ind., for continued service, according to a posting at the …

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Sturgis seeking grant for Sturges-Young improvements

Sturgis city officials last week agreed to pursue a grant worth more than $67,000 for ongoing improvements at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. The grant, due for submission by Thursday, asks for grant funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. If secured, the grant would go toward audio upgrades in the facility’s auditorium. The center would be expected …

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Local departments participate in farm tractor emergency training

More than a dozen members from four area fire departments took part in a safety-training program called “Managing Farm Tractor and Machinery Emergencies,” taught over the weekend. The two-day workshop started in a classroom setting Friday at Burr Oak Fire Department and continued Saturday with hands-on exercises at a location in Sturgis Township. Event organizer Jeremy Smallwood, a captain with …

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