County Information

Further improvements at the county’s newest park top the list of work planned this summer by the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department. Director Jaymes MacDonald said a considerable amount of time has been spent at Kettles Park over the past six months, with efforts centering on improving its trail network. Acquired in 2021 through state grants and a …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday announced recipients of two high-profile awards. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said Mark Mellinger was named Uniformed Services Deputy of the Year for 2022. Meanwhile, Gabriel Keely received Corrections Deputy of the Year for 2022. Bingaman said the county is a safer place because of Mellinger, while Keely is an employee who goes above …

St. Joseph County officials are considering an agreement with a neighboring county regarding year-round disposal of household hazardous waste. During Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, county administrator Teresa Doehring said St. Joseph County is interested in working out a deal with Kalamazoo County, allowing St. Joseph County residents to dispose of household hazardous waste and recycle electronics at Kalamazoo County’s permanent …

St. Joseph County Conservation District has announced dates and locations of its 2023 River Cleanup program. Four dates will comprise this year’s effort. It starts June 12 with a weekday cleanup of the St. Joseph River in Leonidas Township. Work will start at Farrand Road and conclude at Jacksonburg Road. Next, on July 15, attention will focus on the Rocky …

Here’s a look at this month’s Fresh Food Distribution in St. Joseph County. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, east of Centreville on M-86, will oversee the first distribution of the month. It will take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Next, First Presbyterian Church on Lakeview Avenue in Sturgis will host a distribution at 4 p.m. Thursday. Two distributions will occur May 18. …

An hour-long event recognizing National Day of Prayer will take place this week in St. Joseph County. The local National Day of Prayer, spearheaded by Barb Kwiatkowski, will be observed starting at noon Thursday at the St. Joseph County Courthouse gazebo, at the northeast quadrant of the courthouse property. Kwiatkowski said seven different representatives will speak, directing prayers toward different …

St. Joseph County Road Commission officials continue to work on the preliminary stage of an impending road-improvement project. Crews since March 20 have been removing trees along Lutz Road between M-86 and Fairchild Road in advance of this summer’s work. The current phase is expected to be completed on or before May 1. Traffic is limited to local residents and …

St. Joseph County is operating with the benefit of two service dogs. The Sturgis Journal is reporting that a yellow lab named Romeo joined deputy felony clerk Melissa Patch in September, while a German Shepherd named Greta is in the middle of her training with Prosecutor David Marvin. Both are service dogs to help calm and ease victims’ fears in …

Organizers of the twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste and recycling of electronics have announced an important message regarding the spring 2023 event. Pat Kulikoswki, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said the county is working with a different drug and lab company that collects household hazardous waste. She said, unfortunately, it does not have enough staff …

Four communities and St. Joseph County are in line to receive annual payouts from the Michigan Department of Treasury. More than $59 million will be distributed among 224 Michigan municipalities and counties that allow recreational marijuana sales. Each eligible municipality will receive $51,800 for every licensed recreational marijuana retail store and microbusiness within its jurisdiction. Funds are part of the …