County Information

Continued effort toward a balanced budget, development of a new Commission On Aging facility and progress toward updating the courts building are a few of the goals the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners faces in 2019. Dennis Allen, chair of the five-member board, said there is no shortage of work ahead for commissioners. Regarding the county’s finances, Allen said …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority has announced it will once again offer the Free Ride Home courtesy shuttle service New Year’s Eve. The service will start at 10 p.m. Monday and conclude at 4 a.m. Jan. 1. Rides will be limited to and from locations within St. Joseph County. Event organizers said rides will be given only to a …

An unprecedented run ended Tuesday, as St. Joseph County commissioner John Dobberteen attended his last meeting as an elected member of the board. His 20-year tenure on the county board is believed to be the longest in the county’s history. It will officially end Dec. 31, but Tuesday was the board’s final meeting of 2018. A 59-year-old Sturgis resident, Dobberteen …

Michigan marked the beginning of legal, recreational marijuana last week and is the first state in the Midwest to allow marijuana for more than medical purposes. Retail shops are still months away and must involve state regulators, but the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office has announced it is ready to dismiss possession cases. Residents 21 years of age and older …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week made an appointment to the county’s Transportation Authority Board. During Tuesday’s meeting, Sarah Beckle was added to the CTA panel. In other action, commissioners agreed to make an exception to the county hiring freeze in anticipation of a retirement within the treasurer’s office. Deputy treasurer Mary Ives is planning to retire …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk is seeking young men and women interested in serving in the department’s explorer program. Open to people 14 to 21 years of age, the explorer program is encouraged for people who have an interest in law enforcement as a potential career. Prospective participants must have completed eighth grade at least. More information is available …

A Decatur man died in a two-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said Cody Jenkins, 35, was driving a vehicle south on M-51 when it collided head-on with a northbound van shortly before 2 a.m. Friday in the 54000 block. Deputies observed both vehicles with heavy front-end damage. The van was driven by Marie …

Three bats, two in St. Joseph County and one in Branch County, have tested positive for rabies, Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Prevention Services Director Yvonne Atwood said last week. Atwood said more than a dozen bats have been tested this year. Six bats from Hillsdale County were tested, but none came back positive for the viral disease of mammals …

St. Joseph County residents appeared to have no problem continuing to help fund the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority. By a comfortable margin Tuesday, a request to renew one-third of a mill was approved in the county-wide vote. As a result, the Three Rivers-based agency will continue to receive about $650,000 annually over the next four years. Consistent with renewal …

St. Joseph County’s former equalization director will be the Democrat opponent to face Republican incumbent Dennis Allen in the November general election. Nottawa Township resident Judy Nelson topped Tim Carls in Tuesday’s primary election. She earned 410 votes while Carls claimed 310 in what turned out to be a high-profile election for the right to represent the party in November. …