County Information

The contracts of three county employees were renewed for another year Tuesday. County administrator Pat Yoder, human resources director Teresa Doehring and finance director Joni Smith will receive 2 percent pay raises in 2017, when their respective 12-month contracts take effect Jan. 1. The three have operated on one-year contracts since beginning their employment with the county. Yoder, who joined …

Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce officials said someone claiming to be from Universal Associates is calling local businesses, stating they are creating maps for the chamber and that the chamber will be distributing the maps. The chamber is not affiliated with the company and has not contracted with anyone for such a purpose. Chamber officials said they suspect its name …

Troopers from the Michigan State Police White Pigeon attachment collected non-perishable food items, toys and clothing for St. Joseph County residents this past weekend for the eighth consecutive year. “Stuff A Blue Goose,” the name given to the annual drive, took place outside the Sturgis and Three Rivers Walmart stores. The event took place at the Coldwater Walmart, too. In …

A $20,000 allocation from the estate of a Three Rivers woman was presented Monday to representatives from two local animal-centered agencies. Three Rivers resident Katherine Livingston said $20,000 was left by the late Jean Williams, who instructed the money be used to help control the feral-cat population primarily in the Three Rivers area. Livingston said she has spent more than …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this afternoon will stage a public hearing on the county’s 2017 budget. Two other matters of new business appear on the agenda for the 5 o’clock meeting: Economic Development Corporation’s annual report and bids for work related to courthouse entry doors. In addition, commissioners are expected to handle a nomination to the county’s …

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in a car-bicycle accident last week in Fabius Township. Sheriff’s officials said 34-year-old James Gould of Three Rivers was bicycling east on Hoffman Road around 6 p.m. Wednesday when his bike was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by 73-year-old Fabius Township resident Larry Campbell, according to investigators. The incident occurred just …

What appears to be a brief meeting awaits Mayor Tom Lowry and the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. The only items of business appear under the consent agenda. The items include police department monthly report for October, library board minutes of September and October, and change orders related to Broadway Street railroad signalization and sanitary sewer relocation at Metal …

White Pigeon Community Schools this evening is staging the third of three community forums related to next year’s renewal for a sinking-fund millage. Superintendent Jon Keyer said the 6:30 p.m. session at the high school library serves as a follow-up to the Oct. 24 and Nov. 16 forums, during which ideas for the 3-mill renewal were identified. A steering committee …

The October unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by four-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.9 percent October unemployment rate was more than September’s 3.5 percent. October’s unemployment rate was six-tenths of a percent higher than the same month …

The St. Joseph County United Way is staging another “Celebrity Waiter Night” fundraiser. The latest benefit takes place this evening at Frankie’s in Three Rivers. Between 5:30 and 8:30, 10 notable residents will serve as wait staff and all tips provided during the three-hour window will go to the Centreville-based agency. The celebrities are: Matt Lori, Tom and Keri Bringman, …