News Headlines: Battle Creek Burglar Identified on Tape

BC Break In

A 36-year-old Battle Creek woman is in jail on burglary charges after officers saw her familiar face on surveillance video.

Police picker her up Monday about 18 hours after somebody smashed windows at the Dollar General store on West Michigan and the Walgreen's on North Avenue.

Officers watching the video recognized the woman, and they found her a short time later woman walking near Caroline Street and Goguac Street and allegedly wearing some of the stolen clothes.

Fatal Crash on Sprinkle Road

Police shut down a portion of Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo after a deadly two-vehicle crash this morning.  It happened before 8:25 on Sprinkle Road between East Michigan and East Main.  Police say the driver lost control and spun sideways and was hit broadside.  Police say a 51-year-old Kalamazoo woman was killed in the crash. The other driver, a 62-year-old Kalamazoo resident, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Dump Truck Driver Hurt

A dump truck driver is in critical condition after crashing his truck Monday northeast of Richland.  Kalamazoo Sheriff's deputies say it happened around 4 p.m. on M-89 near North 27th Street.  Police say it looks like the truck from Wray's Septic Tank & Development Co blew out a front tire, hit several trees and crashed into a large embankment.   The 63 year old driver was taken to Borgess Medical Center in critical condition.

I-94 Crash Near Paw Paw

Investigators say that a medical condition possibly caused a crash on I-94 near Paw Paw Monday night where one driver died.  Michigan State Police say a car was driving slowly on the interstate Monday night at around 11:00 when it was rear-ended by a semi.  Those first on the scene found the elderly car driver unresponsive, but that's believed to be because of medical reasons. They performed CPR, but the 83 year old man later died.  He has been identified as 83-year-old Eugene Howard of Portage.

Services for Murdered Wife set

Funeral arrangements are Saturday in Beaverton for set for an Allegan County woman who police think was strangled by her husband.  Investigators say Harold "Butch" Knight called 911 saying he had harmed his wife on January 11th and was leaving the country.  Sara Lee Knight was found covered in a sheet with contact information to call family members on a note near her body. She was 48-years old. Knight is still on the run and  was last seen driving a light green 2009 Subaru Forrester.

Field of Flight

Battle Creek’s Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival starts July 1^st, and organizers are looking for a new military jet team.  Event executive director Barbara Haluszka says the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds or the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will not be making the trip toBattle Creek this year.  Haluszka notes that the event drew huge crowds in 2010, the last time the Thunderbirds were absent, when they brought in the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor.  They hope to have a replacement booked by the end of the month.

Lowell-Plane Crash
A 30-year-old Grand Rapids man escaped serious injury Monday after crashing a plane near the Lowell City Airport.  Police say the student pilot will be ok but the single-engine Cessna 172 was a total loss.

State of the State

Tonight is the President’s State of the Union Address and also Governor Snyder’s State of the State.    Governor Snyder begins at 7pm from the State Capitol in Lansing, followed by the Democratic response and a brief panel discussion, hosted by the Michigan Radio Network.  At 9pm, President Obama will address Congress, followed by the Republican response, and hosted by Fox News Radio.

WBCK will broadcast it all, following High School Basketball.   Listeners who would like to hear the broadcasts live, may listen to the internet stream,   Read the article here and click on the listen live links tonight.

Ann Arbor Trial to start for Murdered Schoolcraft Man

The trial begins Tuesday for the third and final suspect in the robbery and murder of a U of M med student from Schoolcraft.  Joei Jordan.is charged in the death of Paul DeWolf during a robbery at his Ann Arbor frat house in 2013.  A second suspect, Shaquille Jones, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and home invasion earlier this month. Triggerman, Dajeon Franklin was sentenced to life without parole last year.

Hastings Teacher’s Fate to be decided in Closed hearing

There will be a closed hearing to decide whether a Hastings teacher who was arrested after relieving himself in his backyard will be fired.  Stephen Merring — a physical education teacher at two Hastings elementary schools — was arrested last year for indecent exposure. He was found not guilty on the charges, but the school is still going through the process to fire him.

Bells To Celebrate 30

Bell’s Brewery is going to be celebrating 30 years of brewing beer.   In honor of that milestone the brewery is holding the Bell’s 30th Anniversary Funvitational Beer Festival as a way of saying thanks.  The event will be held Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Homer Stryker Field and feature more than 100 breweries from Kalamazoo and other locations.
New Lawmakers Start this Week

Attending tonight’s State of the State will be our new State Reps, just elected in November.   Republican Dr. John Bizon represents Calhoun County’s 62nd district and Republican Dave Maturen is the 63^rd district rep.

In WBCK Sports….

Lions Saying Goodbye To Raiola

The Lions are parting ways with center Dominic Raiola.  Sources say the longest-tenured Lion won’t be asked back for a 15th season next year.

College Basketball

The Wolverines play Rutgers tonight, without star Caris LeVert.  He’s out for the season and will have foot surgery this week.

Red Wings

The Wings will host the Minnesota Wild tonight.