A formality approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners allows certain employees in about 12 different departments to work a four-day week. The memorandum of understanding between the county board and AFSCME general unit gives department heads the option of allowing their employees to work four, 10-hour days instead of five, eight-hour days. Human resources director Elishia …

White Pigeon village officials have deferred a matter regarding outdoor, wood-burning boilers until more information can be gathered by a council member and zoning official. A month after village council member Shireen Cline raised health-related concerns about the devices, the panel on Wednesday agreed to have Cline meet with Doug Kuhlman, zoning administrator for the village. The two will review …

The Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant has reported a foamover occurrence took place last week. Plant officials said the incident was noticed around 7:30 a.m. Friday and had occurred the night before. The foam retention pond held in 12,000 gallons of foam, preventing the foam from entering storm sewers. The matter was deemed to have been human error, as it …

Two unrelated matters of business were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners endorsed an agreement with Florida-based MGT of America for cost-allocation plan services. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agreement is geared toward the county’s Friend of the Court and Juvenile Court departments to reimburse their expenses through the state. Also, the employment of …

Everyone calls me Gusto because I definitely have a gusto for life. I am a male, brown terrier mix with a black muzzle. I’m about one year old and weigh 30 lbs. I’d be good with a family who has time to play with me and give me lots of exercise – and tire me out. I love to be …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to allow alcohol during a fundraiser staged next month by the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce. During Tuesday’s commission meeting, county administrator Pat Yoder said the chamber is staging its second annual Treasures of St. Joseph County in July at Rawson’s King Mill Park in Leonidas Township. As it did …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission is inviting the public to attend a road summit next week. Set to take place May 29 at the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, the first-of-its-kind summit will cover a variety of issues related to the agency. A tentative agenda for the gathering includes an overview of the county’s road system, comments from …

A one-room schoolhouse more than 150 years old will soon be relocated to Burr Oak, thanks to a trio of student groups at the district. Burr Oak Community Schools Superintendent Terry Conklin said the Worden School Relocation Committee received funds from the Burr Oak’s senior class, its Varsity Club and National Honor Society to help cover $3,500 in additional charges …

Four people were injured in a 2-car crash Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of M-40 and US-12 in Porter Township. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne Hammons, age 52, of Cicero, Indiana stopped his vehicle on US-12 with the intention of changing lanes. A second vehicle, driven by 18-year-old Laurana Cook of White Pigeon, rear-ended the Hammons vehicle. …

The new State of Michigan map is out, featuring Belle Isle on the Detroit River as a state park for the very first time. The Michigan Department of Transportation has posted the 2014 state transportation map online while paper versions of the map will be available free of charge at all Michigan Welcome Centers and M-DOT offices. In addition to …