WBET Sturgis

Wednesday Is Veteran’s Day At Branch County Fair
8/12/2026
Stiles

(COLDWATER) – The fun continues today at the 2026 and 96th Branch County Fair.

Today is Veteran’s Day, which means free admission and parking for all Veterans.

Morning events include the Equine Performance in the Horse Arena at 8:30 AM, the Dog Show at 9 AM at the 4-H Cabin Pavilion, then at 9:30 AM the Sheep Show will take place in the Show Shelter, while at 10 AM the Youth Talent Show for kids ages 4 to 12 will be happening in the Dearth Center.

At 3 PM the Goat Show will take place at the Show Shelter. Also at 3 PM the Elliots Amusement Rides will open.

The Horse, Pony & Mini-Costume Class starts at 5 PM in the Horse Arena while at 5:30 PM in the Dearth Center there will be a Veteran’s Program. Starting at 6 PM the Branch Buds/Adult Stick Horse & Equine Event will get underway.

At 7 PM get ready for the NTPA Regional Truck & Tractor Pull will take place in the Amphitheater.

To find out more about the 2026 Branch County Fair, you can visit their website at www.branchfair.com or visit the Fair’s page.

(photo courtesy of Branch County Fair)

Hillsdale County Business Announcing Upgrades And Expansion
8/11/2026
Stiles

(HILLSDALE) – A Hillsdale company has announced they are doing upgrades and an expansion project.

Vertical Autonomy, an unmanned systems company that designs, manufactures, and operates advanced vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) autonomous aircraft and supporting autonomy systems, has announced plans to upgrade their existing infrastructure in Hillsdale along with establishing a centralized manufacturing and operations hub in Jackson County.

As a newly formed organization resulting from the acquisition of unmanned aircraft assets and intellectual property of another company, Vertical Autonomy is seeking to consolidate and relocate key operational assets currently located in California and Arizona to Michigan.

The company currently occupies a temporary site in Jackson and expects to obtain a permanent site in Jackson County in late 2026, which will work in conjunction with its existing location in Hillsdale. Along with a new facility, Vertical Autonomy expects to upgrade existing infrastructure, which includes a mobile flight control center, specialized support vehicles, and enhanced utility connections required for testing, assembly, and operations.

This investment will support the state’s advanced aircraft manufacturing industry, positioning Michigan as the global leader in high-technology aerospace and defense activity.

The project is being awarded a $455,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund and is expected to create at least 70 qualified new jobs with starting wages of $30 per hour plus benefit. That is above the Regional Median Wage of $23.17 per hour.

The project will also bring an anticipated capital investment of at least $28.72 million in the City of Hillsdale and Jackson County, including capital investment in machinery and equipment exceeding $22 million and more than $5 million expected in construction and site improvements.

(photo courtesy of Vertical Autonomy)

One Person Injured In Two Vehicle Crash
8/11/2026
Stiles

(CALIFORNIA TOWNSHIP) – One person received injuries in a two-vehicle collision in California Township.

The Branch County Sheriff's Office was called out at 2:16 PM Monday to the area of South Fremont Road and Southern Road for a two-vehicle crash involving an overturned automobile.

Deputies determined that an SUV was heading west on Southern Road, and due to an apparent mechanical issue with the vehicle, the driver was unable to stop at the intersection. The SUV entered the intersection and struck a northbound pickup, which left the roadway and rolled over onto its roof.

A passenger in the pickup was taken by Life Care Ambulance to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the SUV and two minor passengers were not injured.

Assisting deputies at the scene were the Fremont Police and Fire Departments.

The crash remains under investigation.

(photo courtesy of Branch County Sheriff's Office)

Another Date Change For VanDeventer Preliminary Hearing
8/11/2026
Stiles

(BATTLE CREEK) – The preliminary hearing of a Sturgis businesswoman has been rescheduled a second time.

Calhoun County District Court officials says that Carrie VanDeventer-Douponce’s preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for September 2.

The 49 year old VanDeventer-Douponce was arrested on charges of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and Fourth Degree Child Abuse.

VanDeventer-Douponce is currently free after posting a $5,000 bond.

(photo courtesy of Calhoun County Sheriff's Office)

Former PayServ CFO Pleads Guilty To Seven Counts Of Wire Fraud
8/11/2026
Gray/Stiles

(ANGOLA) – Former PayServ System Chief Financial Officer Heather Anne David has plead guilty to seven federal counts of wire fraud.

This is connected to the collapse of the Angola-based human resources management and payroll company.

U.S. District Court officials say David plead guilty on July 6. Prosecutors allege that she used company credit cards and checks to divert more than $900,000 from PayServ between 2016 and 2024. Court documents show that David admitted to seven fraudulent credit card charges in 2024 totaling more than $59,000.

Her plea comes as PayServ continues to face civil litigation from several former clients who allege they collectively lost millions of dollars after the company disclosed a major financial shortfall in December 2024.

David has agreed to pay $59,235 in restitution and an additional $118,470 in fines.

David surrendered her passport before being released August 4 before being released. A sentencing date has not been sent.
PayServ announced in December 2024 that they had lost nearly $8 million, causing several clients to file lawsuits.

Dunham’s is alleging a loss of over $2.2 million. Other alleged losses include AZO Services Inc. of Kalamazoo ($615,371.56); Heartland Recreation Vehicles of Elkhart ($225,098.51); Cruiser RV in Howe ($156,151.54); The Riegseckers Inc. of Shipshewana ($126,427.56) and Blue Gate Musicals LLC in Shipshewana ($9,688.26).

PayServ was founded in Angola by Todd and Traci Saylor in 2003. The company provided payroll and human resources services, including management of payroll expenses and tax liabilities for its clients.

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the civil lawsuit, however, have presented a different account of the company's financial problems. They allege the operation involved an elaborate check-kiting scheme designed to keep the company operating despite mounting financial obligations.

Private e-mails attributed to Saylor and dated November 25, 2024, indicate he was aware of serious financial problems more than three weeks before customers were notified of the collapse, according to court records.

Saylor has not been criminally charged in connection with the PayServ collapse.

(photo courtesy of Pixabay)