County Information

Two soon-to-be-former members of the county commission were nominated to separate boards Tuesday over the objections of Commissioner Robin Baker. Don Eaton was appointed to fill an impending vacancy on the Commission on Aging Board, while Rick Shaffer was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Both terms begin Jan. 1. They will serve in the capacity as citizens at …

Glen Oaks Community College last weekend unveiled “Ken Schuler Court” prior to the school’s 2016-17 basketball home opener. The hardwood gym floor was restored over the past summer thanks to a donation in the name of the Glen Oaks basketball icon. Sturgis resident and Ken Schuler’s widow, Vi Schuler, funded the refurbishing of the floor where her late husband spent …

St. Joseph County commissioners agreed Tuesday to renew for 2017 the board’s contract for services with MSU Extension. Commissioners approved terms of the contract, though, with the exception of language and action related to the extension’s educator position. At the request of Commissioner John Dobberteen, the $39,300 allocation for educator was pulled and the rest of the agreement was subsequently …

The St. Joseph County Board of Canvassers has completed its election-related duties, and tallies from last week’s general election are now official. In Constantine, six village trustee seats went to three candidates and three write-ins. The elected seats went to Willy Harder, Cathy Piper and Richard Larrance. Joining the board through write-in votes are Rita Ganus, Kenda Cartagena and Anthony …

St. Joseph County’s government website will soon have a new, fresher look, but some aspects of the update were questioned by a county resident Tuesday. Prior to commissioners approving a $34,200 expense for Sturgis-based eStudio Design Content Marketing to handle the upgrade, Nottawa Township resident Tammy Rigby expressed her concerns about the matter. Rigby’s concerns centered on the cost to …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were called to a Sturgis Township residence early Tuesday in response to a home invasion in progress. The incident took place at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday in the 29000 block of U.S. 12. The caller reported that two males fled from the house, eastbound into a wooded area. They were apprehended without incident, …

St. Joseph County’s lone remaining representative in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s volleyball tournament lost Tuesday. The Mendon Hornets were in the Class D “Elite Eight” for the fifth consecutive year and went up against Plymouth Christian at Climax-Scotts High School. Mendon, however, fell in four sets, keeping it from advancing to the “Final Four” at Kellogg Arena in …

State Police investigators recovered a variety of stolen items last week in Branch County. According to a department media release, troopers were following up on the theft of a 2006 Jeep Commander taken Wednesday from the city of Bronson. The following day, troopers recovered the Jeep, along with a stolen Basstracker fiberglass boat and boat trailer, near Orland and Whipple …

Two buildings in Sherman Township were burglarized last week. Sheriff’s officials said someone broke into a main building and an outbuilding between Nov. 7 and Nov. 10 in the 64000 block of Shimmel Road. The suspects gained access through forced entry and stole a push mower, cleaning supplies and food.

The St. Joseph County United Way is appealing to the public, as it needs volunteers for an upcoming event in downtown Three Rivers. United Way executive director Kelly Hostetler said help is needed during the annual Holiday Cookie Walk, taking place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 26. Hostetler said prospective volunteers will help at cookie stations in several downtown …