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Michigan peach farmers are harvesting a significantly smaller crop than usual this year after an especially severe winter.  The Detroit Free Press reports the U.S. Agriculture Department forecasts that the state’s crop will be down about 50 percent from last year. Extreme cold wiped out most peach buds in Macomb, Oakland and Lapeer counties last winter.  The state harvested 41 …

If you’re paid the minimum wage, you’re likely getting a pay increase next Monday. It follows recent action by the Michigan Legislature, and the governor. The state’s minimum wage will increase from the current $7.40 per hour to $8.15 per hour on September First. The state’s minimum wage was last increased six years ago. Under the new law Michigan’s minimum wage will increase eventually …

  A member of the Sturgis Fire Department was arrested Tuesday on multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said details of the matter originated from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a female that allegedly started when the suspect was teaching a class at Sturgis High School. The Sturgis Fire Department administration earlier this month …

  A Cassopolis resident was injured following a single-vehicle accident Tuesday morning in Jefferson Township. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said John Bright, 58, was traveling west on M-60 near Daily Road shortly after 6 a.m., when an oncoming vehicle crossed the centerline and entered his lane of travel. Bright was forced to take evasive action, and his vehicle left …

  An Illinois man hospitalized since a near-drowning incident in a Cass County lake last weekend has died. Cass County officials said Abdi Adan, 24, of Wheaton, died at 1:20 p.m. Monday at South Bend Memorial Hospital. His death was attributed to the near-drowning he suffered Saturday at Dewey Lake in Silver Creek Township. Deputies determined that Abdi was not wearing …

  The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved the change of fiscal-year end for four of six funds. During action at last week’s commission meeting, the board changed the fiscal-year end from September 30 to Dec. 31 for funds related to secondary road patrol, community corrections advisory, community corrections program and victim rights advocate. The change was made …

 Whether you’re doing it for the first time, or continuing a family tradition, the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk is less than a week away. Gov. Rick Snyder will lead the expected 40,000 walkers across the 5-mile span beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 1. Walkers can start across the bridge up until 11 a.m., and buses are available to bring walkers …

Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsors NationalPreparedness Month (http://www.ready.gov) to highlight the importance ofbeing prepared for the unexpected. This is good advice for everyone; butfor business owners, being prepared to respond to the aftermath of naturalor man-made disasters can literally mean the difference between staying inbusiness and closing the doors forever. According to FEMA*, up to 40percent of …

It’s difficult to watch a newscast without feeling depressed. Hardly a day goes by when you don’t hear of someone being murdered, someone getting killed in a terrible accident, or someone losing their home in a fire. I could go on and on about the bad news that is thrown at us by the media. The truth is that bad …

  City of Sturgis officials are reminding motorists about the detours in place as a result of the reconstruction of North Centerville Road. Detour signs were placed last week at West Chicago Road and Progress Street diverting traffic to Broadus Street. Construction will span from West Chicago Road to the railroad track just south of Progress Street. A complete rebuild …