Recent Posts

White Pigeon bridge project complete

A four-month, bridge-construction project in White Pigeon Township concluded Monday. As a result, the South Kalamazoo Street bridge over the Pigeon River is now open. The river crossing had been closed since July 23. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting event took place Monday afternoon, and involved township and St. Joseph County Road Commission officials. They celebrated the opening of a new, 120-foot-long …

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Man arrested following pursuit

An 18-year-old Burr Oak man was arrested last week after leading sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit in Nottawa Township. According to a department media release, the man was stopped at 2 p.m. Friday in downtown Centreville. Upon further investigation, deputies noticed the smell of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle he was driving. Deputies eventually confirmed the suspect was …

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Vigil held for missing woman

Nearly two dozen people attended a candlelight vigil over the weekend for a Sturgis-area woman missing for a year. The event, which took place at Free Church Park in Sturgis, was held to honor Brittany Shank, who has been missing since Nov. 30 last year. It was organized by her mother, Jessica Rowlf. Shank was last seen in the 33000 …

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Homeowner dead, 3 officers wounded dead in Kalamazoo County shooting

Authorities are seeking murder and other charges against a man they say shot three officers and killed a 22-year-old father after taking him hostage inside his home. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said there was no apparent connection between the jailed suspect and Christopher Neal. Neal was at his Comstock Township home Sunday night watching television with his wife and …

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Centreville Schools holds food drive and toy drive

Centreville Public Schools is holding its annual “Stuff the Bus” food drive at the high school.  Last year was the first time running this event and 3,000 pounds of food was collected and donated. A toy drive is also underway, and is being organizede by the elementary school.  Potential donors are asked to bring a new, unopened toy between 9 …

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Man injured in Cass County accident

An Edwardsburg man was injured last week following a single-vehicle accident in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday in response to a personal-injury accident. The incident occurred on Mason Street, near Gordon Road, where 44-year-old Jonathan Wagers, was traveling eastbound when his vehicle ran off the roadway. The vehicle struck …

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Community Health Agency recommends flu vaccination

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wishes to remind the public that the best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated. The agency offers flu vaccines, and qualifying families with children age 18 or younger can receive free vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children program. The program is for children who are not insured or whose insurance does …

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Out and About – Week of December 2nd

Welcome to December. This is the final month of a year that has experienced some very odd weather. Last June was cold and wet and a month ago we experienced weather that normally arrives in December and January. It has become very difficult to keep seasonal clothing nearby. No one really knows what the next couple of months have in …

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Impeachment may complicate 2020 for lonely Michigan moderate

Republican Rep. Fred Upton has easily won reelection to his southwest Michigan House seat for more than 30 years by touting his “common-sense values” and bipartisan accomplishments. But then came the hyperpolarized politics of the Donald Trump era. Now no one, including Upton, really knows what the future holds for him heading into the 2020 election. With the impeachment storm …

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Police officer shot, wounded outside a Battle Creek home

A 33-year-old police officer has been shot and wounded outside a home in Battle Creek. Battle Creek officer Jeffery Johnson was in stable condition at a hospital after being struck about 2:30 a.m. Saturday in the chest and left leg. A slug also grazed one of his wrists. Police say officers were on patrol when they heard yelling at the …

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