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A matter related to citizen comments at St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meetings was at the center of a reaction expressed by commissioner Dan Czajkowski earlier this month. Constantine resident Rebecca Shank has persistently asked commissioners to restore the “citizen comment” option toward the end of the board’s twice-a-month meetings. The second opportunity was removed from the board’s meeting …

Twelve people have been reappointed to the St. Joseph County Community Corrections Advisory Board. During their Jan. 16 meeting, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved one-year terms for judges Jeff Middleton, David Tomlinson, Rob Pattison and Paul Stutesman; Anthony Callaway, representing Day Reporting Center; prosecutor John McDonough; Lisa Martin, from the Michigan Department of Corrections; district …

A Kalamazoo Michigan man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2013 beating death of his elderly neighbor has been sentenced to 15-20 years in prison. The punishment handed down Monday for 45-year-old Todd Maneke followed a plea agreement last month. Alfred Minka was found dead in August 2013 at his Kalamazoo apartment. Maneke was charged three years later. …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners earlier this month fulfilled their annual financial commitment to a pair of dependent agencies. During the board’s Jan. 16 meeting, it authorized an appropriation of more than $250,000 to Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The budgeted funds will be distributed through quarterly transfers by the …

Troopers from Michigan State Police are looking into the theft of a car last week from a business in Mottville Township. Investigators said they were notified at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday about a car taken from the Marathon gas station in the 11000 block of U.S. 12. The victim told authorities she was inside the station paying the cashier and her …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging recently received a $750 donation from Farmers State Bank in Sturgis.  The money was raised by the employees at the bank. The donation will go toward benefiting COA members and the activities and other programs in which they participate. On Wednesday, January 24, representatives from the bank presented the check to the COA …

The second annual Trivia Night, organized by the St. Joseph County United Way, drew a full house at nearly 150 people Saturday. The $30-per-person cost, 50/50 ticket sales and proceeds from a silent auction all went to the Five Star Pizza Adoption Fund. In all, more than $5,000 was raised. Carl Thornton, owner of Five Star Pizza in Colon, said …

The Kalamazoo Wings (22-15-2-2) battled their long-time rival, the Fort Wayne Komets (27-13-2-0) on Friday night.  The K-Wings used a strong third period to power past the Komets 7-4.  The K-Wings have won all three against the Komets so far this season and have outscored them 21-10 in those three meetings. Wasting little time, the K-Wings took an early 1-0 …

The Michigan Department of Transportation says $384 million in track improvements have led to faster train speeds and reduced travel times to Chicago. The Amtrak Wolverine route, which runs from Detroit to Chicago, has reduced transit time by 20 minutes, said Michael Frezell, a department spokesman. The Blue Water route, which runs from Port Huron to Chicago, has been reduced …

Members of the Centreville Village Council voted recently to raise monthly water rates. A fixed-fee increase of $3.18 plus another $1.55 per 1,000 gallons used. Those figures will increase annually, based on cost of living. A rate comparison done for council members showed their bills increasing between $5 and $10 per month under the new plan. The increase was based on …