County Information

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority announced this week it will once again offer its annual New Year’s Eve “Free Ride Home” next week. Steve Yorks, director of the Three Rivers-based agency, said sponsors are still being lined up but the free ride from and to any St. Joseph County location will start at 10 p.m. Dec. 31 and conclude …

A number of appointments and reappointments to various boards were made by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week. The terms of Jeff Knautz and Steve Houts to the county’s parks and recreation commission were due to expire Dec. 31. Their terms were renewed Tuesday for three more years. Linda Leensvaart was reappointed to the St. Joseph County …

A two-story residence in Sturgis was destroyed by fire Thursday. Sturgis Fire Captain Cody Cripe said crews were called shortly before 6 a.m. to an address on Lakeview Avenue. The first-arriving unit reported a structure with heavy fire showing from the rear of the house. The fire was extending from the basement to the second floor, both interior and exterior. …

Sheriff’s officials responded to an attempted larceny from a motor vehicle early Wednesday in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, a vehicle driven by a Union City man slid off Shannon Road, near Blossom Road, at 3:23 a.m. The victim was able to flag down a passing motorist, who provided a ride back to the Union City man’s …

St. Joseph County officials this week agreed to discontinue its relationship with a Jackson-based company for audit services. A request for services netted the lowest bid from Gabridge & Co. financial consultant of Grand Rapids for the annual task. Its bid was $76,000 total for a three-year period beginning in 2017. The county’s previous auditor, Rehmann financial consultant, submitted a …

Two St. Joseph County communities were included in a list of counties that received grants announced this week by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers will receive funds through the Recreation Passport Grant. In all, 36 communities across the state will share more than $1.4 million through the grant. Sturgis will receive $45,000 …

It was a time of reflection Tuesday in Centreville, as three of the county commission’s five members were honored for their collective 40 years of service to the county at what was their final meeting. Rick Shaffer, Robin Baker and Don Eaton were presented plaques, and a generous amount of kind words from commission chairman Allen Balog and commissioner John …

Barbara Marshall, superintendent of St. Joseph County Intermediate School District has announced her resignation. It becomes effective April 1, 2017. She will step down after leading the organization for 11 years. Robert Trenary, president of the ISD board, read Marshall’s resignation Monday at the board’s monthly meeting. The board agreed to contract Rob Olsen of Synergy 1, who will work …

Eliot Gitelman has been named 2016 recipient of the John E. Oster Award, an award that recognizes teaching excellence in the Sturgis Public Schools system. He was honored Monday during a meeting of Sturgis Rotary Club at Sturges-Young Auditorium. Gitelman has taught at Sturgis Public Schools since 1990, serving as orchestra instructor. Nomination forms received from colleagues, former students and …

A Three Rivers man was involved in a single-vehicle accident Monday in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called shortly after 11:30 a.m. to the intersection of M-205 and Cassopolis Road in Mason Township. Underwood said 20-year-old Rickey Richards was driving north on M-205 when he lost control of his vehicle. His car ran off the road and …