Government

Homes in Sherman Township evacuated after propane leak

About a dozen homes in Sherman Township were evacuated late Sunday after a thousand-gallon propane tank began to leak. Authorities said the tank slid off of its base due to soft ground and rolled down a hill around 9:30 p.m. The tank then struck a tree at the tank’s valve. Homes were evacuated in an area that included Banker Street, …

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Fatal fire in Kalamazoo

Firefighters sent to an apartment in Kalamazoo found a 47-year-old resident dead in a bedroom.  The cause of the fire and the woman’s death are under investigation. The Kalamazoo Public Safety Department calls the fire “suspicious.”  The fire was quickly extinguished Saturday night. No other apartments at the Clayborne Court complex were affected. (AP)

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Sturgis business robbed at gunpoint

Sturgis police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred last week at a gas station on the west side of the city. Authorities said a woman entered Admiral, located at 501 W. Chicago, around 8 p. m. Thursday, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken and the suspect drove away from …

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Printing plant damaged in fire

A fire early Friday in the production area at LTi Printing in Sturgis caused significant damage to equipment. According to fire officials, smoke and water damage was heavy throughout the building, located at 518 N. Centerville Road. Meanwhile, LTi officials said they are conducting damage assessments and clean-up has begun. They hope the least-affected areas of the plant will be …

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Two injured in Cass County crash

Driving too fast for conditions appears to be the cause of a single-vehicle accident that injured two people last week in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to a stretch of Harvey Street in Porter Township, where a pickup struck a tree. Upon arrival, deputies found Joshua Westphal, 26, of Vandalia, had lost …

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Police searching for hit-and-run driver

State police are looking for a man who fled the scene of a hit-and-run incident last week in Fabius Township. The incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. Friday on Corey Lake Road near Shafer Brothers Road. Troopers said the driver of a 2001 Buick Lesabre was traveling west on Corey Lake Road when he lost control and the vehicle left …

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Recount will be requested

More than two weeks after the elections, the Democratic candidate for the 20th District State Senate seat State Representative Sean McCann of Kalamazoo says he will request a recount. The results of the election showed McCann losing to Republican State Representative Margaret O’Brien of Portage by a small margin. The Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers says their count showed O’Brien won …

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Human Resources Director vacancy to be filled

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to fill the vacancy of human resources director. Tuesday’s commission meeting was the last for Elishia Arver, 36, who is vacating the position to take a human resources job in the private sector with a company in Angola, Ind. A job description and salary range were not mentioned. …

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Candidates for Road Commission manager narrowed to two

A new manager for the St. Joseph County Road Commission is expected to be named before the end of the year. Commission board member Eric Shafer said three candidates from a field of 10 legitimate candidates were interviewed this week. The trio was narrowed to two finalists, with second interviews for the pair scheduled to take place in December. Shafer …

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Police shooting is being reviewed

A northern Indiana prosecutor is reviewing whether police officers acted properly when they fatally shot a man who they say pointed a gun at them while he was trying to flee.  State police investigators submitted their report this week to the Elkhart County prosecutor’s office about the September shooting that involved seven Elkhart city officers.  The shooting at an apartment …

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