Recent Posts

Michigan considers state-wide ban on cellphones in classrooms

As Michigan lawmakers debate a state-wide ban on cellphones in the classroom in order to keep students focused, Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School has implemented a no-cell-phone policy this academic year. ABC News Channel 57 looked into the situation. It found that the no-cell-phone policy at the Cassopolis school was implemented at the beginning of the academic year. The policy …

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Rate increase approved for Consumers Energy

Michigan Public Service Commission recently approved a 2.8% rate increase for customers using Consumers Energy, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced last week. The rate hike will allow the energy company to collect an additional $1.5 million in revenue, according to Nessel. Consumers Energy originally requested a combined $325 million rate hike, however, that request was lowered to $154 million …

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Two townships plan to leave South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority

More changes are afoot within South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority. Vicksburg Village Council members were recently provided an update on the agency and its impending membership changes. Details were shared by council member Carl Keller, who serves as the village’s liaison to the SKCFA board. Keller had previously discussed Brady Township’s plan to exit what is currently a six-community membership …

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Cass County man wins $1 million dollar prize

A Cass County man won a substantial amount of money in a recent Powerball drawing. Numbers on a ticket owned by Robert Cusumano, 65, matched all five white balls, but not the Powerball number, to claim a $1 million award. The drawing took place March 1. Cusumano purchased his $6 ticket – which contained three different entries – at Big …

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Out and About – Week of March 24th

A Generation That Will Never Come Back It’s funny how fast life goes! I was born in 1944 and when I was growing up, hearing stories of people who were born in the 20s and 30s seemed so foreign and old to me. Now, when younger people hear that I was born in the 40s, I am considered old. The …

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Skateboarder hit by vehicle in Sturgis Township

A man riding a skateboard on a state highway was struck and killed shortly before 3:30 a.m. Thursday in Sturgis Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies said the incident occurred on M-66 near Bogen Road. Authorities were called after a southbound Ford F-150 struck the pedestrian. Despite lifesaving attempts by emergency personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the …

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County commission approves next step in courts building renovation

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners took another step toward a major renovation of its 50-year-old courts building. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, the seven-member panel OK’d a plan to authorize up to $6 million in bonds to help finance the projected $10.5 million undertaking. Commissioner Ken Malone said the issue was the center of concerns expressed by more than …

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Pass It Forward announces spring dates

The Pass It Forward Shop, open just eight weekends of the year, has announced dates of its four spring weekends. The Athens-area store, a ministry of Factoryville Bible Church, will be open April 4-5 and 18-19, and May 9-10 and 23-24. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Its Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free clothing …

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Search warrant leads to drug arrest

A drug-related arrest was made this week in Cass County. Officials from the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team said the agency was called Tuesday to a residence on Telegraph Street in Dowagiac. A search warrant was executed and authorities discovered an undisclosed quantity of methamphetamine. A 39-year-old man was charged with possession of meth, officials said.

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Household hazardous waste collection details

The first of St. Joseph County’s twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and electronics recycling event is coming up in May. Now undertaken by the St. Joseph County Conservation District, the collection returns 2 to 6 p.m. May 6. The fall follow-up collection is Oct. 7. Both events are on a Tuesday and are held at the St. Joseph County …

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