With the initial portion of $12 million in hand from the American Rescue Plan, St. Joseph County officials will have to decide where to put the money. County finance director Angie Steinman told commissioners during their meeting Tuesday she plans to meet with auditors and discuss the short-term allocation and long-term designation for $5.9 million the county received last month. …

St. Joseph County commissioners approved a request from Undersheriff Jason Bingaman regarding an exception to the county’s hiring freeze. During Tuesday’s commission meeting, Bingaman explained that a full-time deputy left the facility to take a security-related role at the courthouse. With that, Bingaman said the $70,000 position is already in the county’s 2021 fiscal year budget and his request was …

Through funding made available by CARES Act, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has taken delivery of a mobile clinic van. Health officer Rebecca Burns said the agency about a decade ago identified a need for a mobile clinic. More recently, it found itself in need of a mobile COVID-19 testing and vaccination unit, Burns said. She said CARES Act …

Members of the Three Rivers Lions Club have announced the recipient of their annual Bruce C. Snook Three Rivers Lions Citizen of the Year. David Berry, manager of the Three Rivers Food Site, will be honored at a banquet later this year. A Three Rivers native, Berry remained in the area and taught third grade at Park School. Berry was …

A raw-sewage spill occurred last weekend in Fabius Township. Officials said about 6,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled in the 15000 block of Gleason Road, south of M-60. The spill was reported around 2 p.m. Saturday and officials discovered the force main was breached. The line, which transports sewage from Constantine to Three Rivers, was temporarily repaired. The line will …

The popcorn stand at Scidmore Park in Three Rivers is open. Proceeds from popcorn purchases benefit employment training for adults with developmental disabilities. The stand is open 2 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the theft of a vehicle last week in Sturgis Township. Authorities said the incident occurred between 6 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday in the 25000 block of U.S. 12. The victim told authorities a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer was stolen. It had a spare tire on the back hatch and a registration plate …

A catalytic converter was stolen last weekend from Mendon Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Portage Lake public access, in the 52000 block of Silver Street. The catalytic converter was taken between 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 a.m. Sunday from a Jeep.

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees conducted its annual evaluation of president David Devier’s performance last week. The seven-year president earned a score of 4.58 on a scale of 1 to 5. Devier was evaluated on 48 performance expectations, which were divided among six categories: fiscal management, external relations, internal relations, leadership, institutional performance, personal qualities and relationship with …

Another hurdle was cleared last week regarding improvements – including the installation of a splash pad – at Thurston Woods Park in Sturgis. The city plans to build a splash pad on the east side of Thurston Woods Park in 2022, funded in part with grant money. Michigan Department of Natural Resource’s passport grant program requires that bidding of design …