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The return of New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home kept nearly two dozen potentially drunken drivers off St. Joseph County roads last weekend. The free service, offered over a six-hour period starting at 8 p.m. Friday, drew 20 riders. Rides were provided by the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority. Agency director Allen Balog said the service was worth the expense, …

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has notified Van Buren/Cass District Health Department that the Omicron variant has been identified in a Van Buren County resident. Health Officer Danielle Persky said the Omicron variant will likely spread more easily. Though, how easily Omicron spreads compared to the Delta variant, remains unknown, she said. Two new, free rapid antigen …

The family of a 16-year-old boy who was restrained at a shuttered western Michigan youth center and died two days later of cardiac arrest has settled a second wrongful death lawsuit in the case. The settlement between the family of Cornelius Fredricks and Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo was approved Dec. 29 by Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Alexander Lipsey. It was …

Michigan State University now is requiring proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test to attend athletic, music, art and theater events on the East Lansing campus. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event will be required of all attendees ages 12 and older, the university said. Persons who cannot provide …

November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by three-tenths of a percent from October. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released recently. It showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.3 percent in October to 4 percent in November. The rate was 5.8 percent 12 months earlier. Meanwhile, Cass County …

Sturgis firefighters responded to two separate house fires on the same day last week. Officials said the department was summoned around 5 a.m. Friday to the 500 block of Michigan Avenue for a report of a structure fire. Arriving units found flames coming from the attic area. However, firefighters were able to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a one-car crash that occurred last week in Mottville Township. Authorities were dispatched to an area on U.S. 12 near Burke Road, where the driver of a car lost control of his vehicle. Witnesses told investigators that the driver of the at-fault vehicle was traveling east on U.S. 12 when he attempted to overtake …

A new sign will soon be placed in front of Sturgis Department of Public Safety. Sturgis Planning Commission members recently approved a request for the sign, which will reflect a rebranding of the police and fire stations to the department of public safety. The city’s design-review committee has reviewed the proposed signage for the North Nottawa Street site. The sign, …

The Kalamazoo Wings (15-10-0-0) sent 2021 out on a high note and ushered in 2022 in grand fashion as they defeated the visiting Tulsa Oilers (14-11-0-1) in both of their games this past weekend. To kick off the holiday weekend, the two teams battled in the K-Wings Annual New Year’s Eve Game at Wings Event Center. Following the first twenty …

“We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” ~ Dr. Henry Link Welcome to 2022. We are starting our third year of Covid-19, with no end in sight. I have visions of wearing a mask out in public for the rest of my life. We are right now at another peak of Covid cases and the hits …