Business

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Mottville Township over the weekend in response to a business alarm. At 4 a.m. Sunday, an alarm at the Marathon gas station on U.S. 12 was activated. Upon arrival, investigators found a front window had been smashed out. It appears there was no entry made into the business, officials said. The …

St. Joseph County experienced an unemployment drop of seven-tenths of a percent from January to February. The monthly report from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis shows February’s unemployment rate in the county was 9.2 percent. The figure was also a decrease from the county’s unemployment rate in February 2011, which was 11 percent. St. Joseph County’s …

The surge in gasoline prices has stalled around $3.92 per gallon, but experts caution that more increases are coming.  Many refineries still haven’t undergone a seasonal maintenance period that will force them to produce less gas. That will tighten supplies in some parts of the country, especially in the Great Lakes region, and push prices higher.

  Members of the Three Rivers City Commission earlier this week rejected a plan to act as the municipality’s zoning board of appeals in matters related to so-called Big Box retail developments. Following an informal consensus Tuesday, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners decided to field such matters. The issue was raised in light of concerns that the city’s ZBA has …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police post in White Pigeon are looking into the weekend theft of firearms, knives and ammunition from a White Pigeon bait shop. Owners of Fisher’s Bait and Tackle said someone broke into the U.S. 12 business sometime early Saturday. It appears entrance was gained through a rear window. Seven firearms were among the items stolen, …

St. Joseph County’s January unemployment rate increased seven-tenths of a percent from December. Data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis shows St. Joseph County’s January unemployment rate was 9.8 percent. The figure was 1.8 percent lower than it was in January 2010. One contributing factor to the unemployment increase from December to January was the …

Contracts were awarded this week to a trio of lawn-maintenance companies for work on city-owned property in Sturgis. Various jobs where lawn work is required on municipal property were awarded to Custom Lawn Care of White Pigeon, Bronson-based Backyard Creations and Rickett’s Lawn Service of White Pigeon. Bids from each of the three varied from $400 to more than $4,100, …

The first of a series of “Generate Sturgis” forums this week resulted in a group of five finalists from a field of 31 presenting valid business ideas for the city. Staged Tuesday at Sturges-Young Auditorium, the event was the result of a recently created, business-advocate group called Generate Sturgis. The top idea, according to a panel of five judges, was …

The Three Rivers Relay for Life was given a financial boost recently, thanks to Kadant Johnson. The Three Rivers-based company last weekend hosted its second annual Hoops for Hope, 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Seventeen teams combined to raise more than $2,300 for the local Relay for Life program.

The former president and CEO of a Three Rivers financial institution has pled guilty to embezzling more than $100,000. Kristen Taft, 57, will be sentenced April 27 after she admitted her guilt Friday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. The Portage resident was found to have used a St. Joseph Valley Community Federal Credit Union credit card to purchase items …