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Authorities say a firefighter was wounded after a gun that was in his pocket accidentally discharged while he was responding to a grass fire in southern Michigan. Crews from several departments responded Monday afternoon to the fire in woods and fields along I-94 in Calhoun County’s Emmett Township near Battle Creek. Authorities say a firefighter from the nearby community of …

In the past I’ve shared some interesting facts on cucumbers. At this time, I’d like to enlighten you a little bit on maple syrup. Pancakes, waffles and French toast just aren’t the same without it, yet I do know at least one person who enjoys sausage gravy on his pancakes. I’ve never tried it, so who am I to offer …

St. Joseph County commissioners appear to have a brief meeting before them this afternoon. The only item under new business is accepting the annual report from Central Dispatch. In a separate matter, commissioners will discuss whether to appoint Kathy Pangle, Rick Shaffer and Kay Decker to the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched over the weekend to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in Howard Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday to a location along M-60 where a vehicle went off the roadway. Shawn Hoover, 34, of Niles was the driver and 58-year-old David Crespo, also of Niles, was a …

A man accused of killing two people in two counties in southwestern Michigan has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for one of the crimes. A Kalamazoo County judge sentenced 33-year-old Zachary Patten on Monday after he was convicted last month of the first-degree murder of Graciela Portillo-Esparza last July. The mother of four was fatally shot after …

A southwestern Michigan 15-year-old has been arraigned in juvenile court following a threat of violence at his school and the discovery of guns and pipe bomb materials at his home. The youth faced charges Monday of making a terrorist threat, two counts of possession of a shortened barrel firearm, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of bomb-making materials. Van Buren …

An out-of-state travel request for two St. Joseph County employees was granted recently by county commissioners. The circuit court and county clerk employees were approved a five-day training in Cleveland. The training would allow them to become system administrators on the ImageSoft program. The training amounted to a $6,000 cost and travel expenses were to not exceed $2,000. In an …

The terms of two Animal Control Advisory Board members were renewed by members of the county board. Veterinarian Suzanne Lee and marketing/community awareness coordinator Laura Barley were recently approved to serve three-year terms, beginning retroactively to Jan. 1. The reappointments were made at the request of animal control advisory board chair Emily Frohriep. In another appointment, county treasurer Judie Ratering …

Ninety-five percent of the income St. Joseph County Treasurer’s Office took in last fiscal year was from two sources. During her annual report to county commissioners earlier this month, treasurer Judie Ratering said the department had revenue of nearly $943,000. Two-thirds of that – more than $660,000 – was from delinquent-tax fees, while investment earnings generated the balance, about $235,000. …

Eighteen companies received recognition for employing adults who have mental illness with the support of Clubhouse employment and recovery centers across Michigan. Seventeen state legislators earlier this month at Michigan’s Capitol building presented awards to the companies in recognition of their leadership in choosing to give people who have mental illness an opportunity to re-enter the workforce, with support. The …