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St. Joseph County’s January unemployment rate increased seven-tenths of a percent from December. Data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis shows St. Joseph County’s January unemployment rate was 9.8 percent. The figure was 1.8 percent lower than it was in January 2010. One contributing factor to the unemployment increase from December to January was the …

Investigators with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in locating two potential suspects related to an armed robbery and home invasion incident last week. According to a sheriff’s department press release, Justin Shawn Criddle and Timothy Bryce Williams are persons of interest. The two may have been involved in an incident Tuesday morning at …

The city of Sturgis has announced its first of three brush pickups is set to begin today. As they have in the past, city workers will start collections at the north end of town and work their way south. During brush collection, no grass clippings, roots, thorn-bearing branches, tree trunks, stumps, or construction materials will be picked up. Limbs, branches …

The Kalamazoo Wings, proud member of the ECHL, two-time defending North Division Champions, reigning Eastern Conference Champions and National Hockey League affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils and American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, announce the times and dates of 2012 Kelly Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Quarterfinal match-up against the Wheeling Nailers . The K-Wings and Nailers will …

Heading into the Kelly Cup playoffs with a victory, the Kalamazoo Wings concluded the regular season with a 3-2 victory Saturday night at the Huntington Center against the Toledo Walleye. A physical first period led to plenty of hits and a combined 20 minutes in penalties, but no scoring. The stalemate ended early in the second period, on blue line …

Nearly coming back for a four-goal deficit, the Kalamazoo Wings scored twice in the third period and had two more goals disallowed in a 4-2 defeat Friday night at the Sears Centre against the Chicago Express. Even through the K-Wings had plenty of power-play chances (0-for-5) in the opening period, Kalamazoo found themselves trailing the Express. While Chicago struggled with …

Three Rivers City Commission member Ken Baker has announced he will be resigning from the position next week. Baker, 70, cited his health as the reason for his impending resignation, which will become official Monday. Baker said he discussed the situation with his family and his doctor, and concluded it would be in his and the city’s best interest that …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded to an explosion shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 23000 block of West U.S. 12 in Sturgis Township. Upon arrival to the apartment unit, investigators found the explosion was triggered by a methamphetamine lab. The complex was evacuated while the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics Unit responded and removed the …

Contracts were awarded this week to a trio of lawn-maintenance companies for work on city-owned property in Sturgis. Various jobs where lawn work is required on municipal property were awarded to Custom Lawn Care of White Pigeon, Bronson-based Backyard Creations and Rickett’s Lawn Service of White Pigeon. Bids from each of the three varied from $400 to more than $4,100, …

The first of a series of “Generate Sturgis” forums this week resulted in a group of five finalists from a field of 31 presenting valid business ideas for the city. Staged Tuesday at Sturges-Young Auditorium, the event was the result of a recently created, business-advocate group called Generate Sturgis. The top idea, according to a panel of five judges, was …