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The statewide unemployment rate in Michigan increased from November to December, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. It said the unemployment rate grew from 4.8 percent in November to 5 percent in December. A year ago, Michigan’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate went down by one-tenth of a …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners took a moment last week to recognize one of its own. During the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday, a proclamation acknowledging Ken Malone and the two years he served as chairman of the seven-member panel was approved and presented to the Sturgis resident. In addition, he was presented a replica gavel to symbolize his tenure …

Three former township supervisors are expected to be nominated for an annual award bestowed by St. Joseph County Road Commission. Agency director John Lindsey said during last week’s road commission board meeting he would like Mark Brown of Constantine Township, Don Gloy of White Pigeon Township and John Kroggel of Fabius Township to be considered for the commission’s recognition award. …

Constantine Village Council members created an ordinance last week in order to comply with requirements of a resolution it approved previously. Village manager Mark Honeysett said he was advised by municipal attorney Roxanne Seeber that an ordinance was necessary in order to validate a November resolution for a Tax Increment Financing Authority for the village’s Downtown Development Authority. Honeysett said …

General Ulysses S. Grant prevented Robert E. Lee from being charged with treason after the War. The 1865 surrender offered generous terms to paroled Confederate soldiers and officers allowing return to their homes and keeping their horses and mules as farm animals. Grant believed leniency was critical to a lasting peace for this great nation. President Andrew Johnson (17th President) negated …

Names of two men who died in a single-vehicle crash earlier this month in Fawn River Township have been released. According to obituary announcements, 28-year-old Brice Fenske of Quincy, and his 30-year-old cousin, Zane Dirr, of Delta, Ohio, died at the scene of the Jan. 12 crash. The two died after the vehicle they were in went out of control, …

The city of Sturgis is accepting permit applications for residents looking to keep urban chickens. Applications are available in the Community Development Department at Sturgis City Hall, according to municipal officials. Residents who have kept chickens prior to obtaining a permit and apply by Jan. 31 will be waived the fee for keeping of chickens prior to having a permit. …

Authorities have identified a man who died in an Elkhart County house fire earlier this month. Indiana State Police investigators said Richard Irwin, 68, of Bristol died in the Jan. 3 blaze. Elkhart County Coroner’s Office officials said the blaze was caused by inhalation of products of combustion. The death was ruled accidental and the county coroner has closed its …

A Sturgis man, armed with a chainsaw, was arrested last week after attempting to break into a residence. Sturgis Police officers were called at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 called to a residence in the 500 block of Susan Avenue in response to a disorderly subject. Authorities said the man was attempting to gain access into a residence but left the …

Michigan Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction and prison sentence issued to a Three Rivers man charged with attempted murder. The court upheld Lee Parker Jr.’s conviction and sentence to between 17 and 60 years in prison for charges of assault with intent to commit murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The charges …