Recent Posts

Motorcyclist injured in crash

A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet was hospitalized after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident Thursday in Flowerfield Township. Sheriff’s deputies said 32-year-old Marcellus resident Michael Lay was driving west on Floating Bridge Road shortly before 8 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle while rounding a curve near Pulver Road. Lay was thrown from the motorcycle and …

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Three arrested after breaking and entering

Two juveniles and an adult are in custody after the Cass County Sheriff’s Department was called to a report of a breaking and entering, and vandalism last week. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the three gained access into Ross Beatty High School between 12:30 and 2 a.m. July 12. Once inside the Cassopolis-based school, the three allegedly damaged technology equipment, fiber-optic …

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Appeals court says criminals can’t be sentenced by video

The Michigan appeals court says video may be a convenient way to conduct some court business but it’s not appropriate when ordering a sentence. The court says Hillsdale County Judge Michael Smith was wrong when he didn’t bring a man to court for sentencing in a methamphetamine case. Trenity Heller appeared by video from jail. His attorney didn’t object. The …

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Lawyer: Man charged in 5 bicyclist deaths didn’t intend harm

A defense lawyer says a man accused of killing five people by plowing his speeding pickup truck into a group of Michigan bicyclists hadn’t intended to harm them. The comment from lawyer Alan Koenig followed the release this week of police reports saying 50-year-old Charles Pickett Jr. had taken pain pills and muscle relaxers less than two hours before the …

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Commissioners discuss courthouse security

The courthouse tragedy in Berrien County earlier this week drew the bulk of attention during Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting. The situation garnered more than a half hour of discussion, which concluded with Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite and Sheriff Brad Balk indicating their plan to seek additional funds from commissioners to better secure the county courthouse. …

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Two arrested on multiple charges

Sturgis police this week arrested two people after they were caught using an unauthorized credit card. The suspects, whose names, ages and communities of residence were not disclosed in a department media release, were arrested around 7 a.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of South Centerville Road. After further investigation, officers found the suspects were in possession of multiple unauthorized …

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White Pigeon Days begins

The three-day White Pigeon Days community festival begins this evening. Joy Weber, president of the White Pigeon Community Association, said a few major changes are in store for the festival. Primarily, the parade route for tonight’s procession is different from the past because the parking lots at White Pigeon High School are under construction. The work at the school also …

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Prairie River bridge construction to begin

Access from the eastern half of St. Joseph County to Centreville will require a few additional minutes beginning next week. Michigan Department of Transportation on Monday will start its $4.9 million project that involves construction of a new bridge on M-86 at the Prairie River. As a result, a portion of M-86 will be closed and a posted detour will …

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K-Wings move to Western Conference; Bootland discusses upcoming season

When the 2016-17 ECHL schedule was released on April 28, the Kalamazoo Wings were set to play their division foes, the Toledo Walleye, Wheeling Nailers and Brampton Beast between 8-10 games each during the season. While the K-Wings will still be playing those teams and all the others per the schedule, the ECHL announced that divisions and conferences have been …

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Use your library card to access Michigan state parks

Sen. John Proos is encouraging Southwest Michigan residents to use their library cards to check out Michigan’s great outdoors. “We are blessed to have numerous ways to have fun in our great outdoors, and I encourage Southwest Michigan families to get out this summer and enjoy Michigan’s amazing natural wonders,” said Proos, R-St. Joseph. “Residents with library cards can take …

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