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Every year at this time, I usually come up with some lame comment like, “I’m taking the rest of the year off, so my next column will not appear until next year.” I try to be funny by saying something that I feel might come across as clever. Sometimes I succeed, and other times I feel stupid for even trying …

Cass County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a former Marcellus village employee with embezzlement. According to county officials, 48-year-old Krista Jourdan was charged with three offenses: embezzlement by agent of $1,000 to $20,000; embezzlement by agent of $200 to $1,000; and embezzlement of more than $50 by a public official. According to the prosecutor’s office, at least two of the charges …

A Constantine woman was the winner of a $1 million prize awarded last week by representatives from Publishers Clearinghouse. A Facebook video (Link:  https://www.facebook.com/pch/videos/10155897303895786/) posted Friday shows the so-called “Prize Patrol,” a two-man team from Publishers Clearinghouse, tracking down Betty Patchett at her work. Patchett is an employee with Constantine Public Schools’ transportation department. A skeptical Patchett was left speechless after …

Sturgis city staff brought a draft medical marijuana ordinance to last week’s city commission meeting for discussion and questions. The ordinance and zoning amendments will go to the planning commission for a public hearing and recommendation to the city commission Jan. 16. The ordinance would allow all five types of facilities – growers, processors, secure transporters, provisioning centers and safety-compliance facilities – …

A retired Constantine High School teacher hoping to raise about $30 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation more than exceeded her goal thanks to a current Centreville Elementary School teacher. Former English teacher Mary Grunert said she lucked out when she asked former student Lisa Dentler for help with the “Letters To Santa” project, sponsored by Macy’s. Dentler, is a sixth-grade teacher …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week commended strides made by the Michigan Legislature in the first year of his second term serving residents of St. Joseph and Cass counties. Miller, who chairs the House Committee on Election and Ethics, serves on the Appropriations Committee, where he is a member of four subcommittees. Miller also chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on Michigan …

A dog attack in a southwestern Michigan home has left a toddler critically injured. Police in Kalamazoo say the child was dropped off at the home and was being watched by a family friend when the attack occurred. The dog belonged to the family friend. Police were called to the home at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday. The child was being …

A Constantine man died after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a tree over the weekend in Constantine Township. State police said the 49-year-old victim was driving a 2003 Chevy Malibu around 4:15 p.m. Saturday. The driver lost control of the car on Youngs Prairie Road near New England Road. Investigators said the incident occurred as the Malibu was …

Police have released the handwritten note and map that led investigators to the body of a missing teacher in October. Christopher Lockhart expressed regret for killing his wife, Theresa Lockhart, and wrote, “I pray that God forgives me.” He wrote the note on Oct. 23 before killing himself at their Portage home. Police the next day found his body and …

Authorities say a 43-year-old Michigan man has died after he fell through the ice while fishing on an Indiana river. Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a 911 call Friday afternoon from someone at a park along the St. Joseph River in South Bend. The caller said they saw a man fall through the ice and disappear. St. Joseph County Police …