Government

Officials are investigating after a man’s body was found at the scene of a house fire in Kalamazoo County. Firefighters got a call about 3:00 Monday morning about a fire at a home in Pavilion Township near Comstock, where they found flames covering the home and siding melting on a neighbor’s garage. Authorities say the man found dead was 65-year-old …

The Sturgis Police Department will receive a new squad vehicle. Anticipating the department would need a new cruiser, the city budgeted $ 27,500 for the 2014-15 fiscal year. Bill Snethkamp-Fleet in Lansing was the low bidder at $22,643, plus a $200 charge for delivery. The vehicle is on the lot and available immediately, a factor that influenced commissioners to accept …

The city of Sturgis will stage a public hearing next month regarding the removal of a portion of Magnolia Street. The hearing, which takes place Dec. 17, will center on Magnolia Street from the Prairie Avenue right of way to the west property boundary of Carls Park. Sturgis voters earlier this month approved the transfer of Carls Park to Burr …

The city of Three Rivers is kicking off its 2014 Christmas season this weekend with a tree-lighting ceremony at 6:15 p.m. Friday at the downtown Mural Mall. “Miracle on Main Street” is the theme of this year’s holiday celebration, which will include four weekends of special holiday events and shopping in the downtown district. Christmas caroling, a book reading of …

Two adults and a juvenile were arrested at 6 a. m. Sunday on weapon and drug charges in Sturgis. Sturgis officers obtained a search warrant for a residence at 213 N. Fourth St., where police seized two handguns, a rifle and packaged marijuana. A 24-year-old man was arrested for possession with intent to deliver, while a 19-year-old man was arrested …

A 19-year-old Michigan State University student is facing charges for allegedly making a threat to shoot up a school on a social media site. Matthew Mullen of Northbrook, Illinois was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of false report or threat of terrorism. He was released Wednesday from the Ingham County jail on $10,000 bond. Mullen faces up to 20 years in prison. His …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch will soon be receiving a new recorder system. During last week’s county commission meeting, approval was given to replace the 20-year-old recorder currently used by the Centreville-based agency. Human resources director Elishia Arver said the current recorder is plagued with viruses and is long overdue to be retired. Grand Rapids-based software company Van Belkum provided …

The formation of a task force, whose members would attempt to raise public support for a millage request to improve county roads, was proposed last week. During their quarterly St. Joseph County Township Supervisors meeting, members talked at length about the two-question ballot measure road commission officials posed to county voters in August. The requests sought a 1-mill renewal and …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident involving a number of RV trailers in White Pigeon Township. According to an agency media release, troopers were summoned at 3 p.m. Saturday to the 69000 block of U.S. 131, where 17 new trailers were entered. Numerous items valued in excess of several thousand dollars were stolen from inside the trailers. Furthermore, several …

Police have arrested a Battle Creek man in connection with a fatal stabbing and apartment fire in Kalamazoo over the weekend. The 35-year-old suspect was to be arraigned on charges of open murder and arson Tuesday. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers were called to the Clayborne Court Apartment complex Saturday night. The fire was in a bedroom and fire crews were able …