County Information

Mendon Township resident Carol Higgins has announced her candidacy for state representative for Michigan’s 59th District, which includes all of St. Joseph County and most of Cass County. A Democrat, Higgins is challenging freshman incumbent Aaron Miller of Sherman Township. Miller is representing the Republican party. Higgins, a retired teacher from Marcellus Community Schools, is chair of the St. Joseph …

A 28-year-old Sturgis man was charged with drug-related offenses following a traffic stop this week. Sheriff’s officials said the man was stopped on Maple Street near Chicago Road in the city of Sturgis at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday for defective equipment. With the assistance of K-9 officer Tucky, deputies found methamphetamine, marijuana and more than $9,000 in lottery tickets suspected to …

The St. Joseph County United Way is making a final appeal to the public for donations to next week’s silent auction. The fundraiser takes place all week next week at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. Items can be donated to the United Way and proceeds are used to support more than 40 agencies in the area. Cash donations and …

Here’s a reminder that St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch will be conducting a series of tests of the county’s emergency sirens this weekend. Agency director Dennis Brandenburg said the test is scheduled to take place at noon Saturday and it may consist of more than one activation. Brandenburg is urging residents to not contact 9-1-1 to inquire about the sirens. …

Three Rivers Police arrested a man wanted on four outstanding warrants last week in an area near South Main Street. According to a department media release, troopers observed a man and woman walking shortly before midnight Wednesday on South Main Street near Michigan Avenue. Officers had an idea the man was wanted on a warrant and made an attempt to …

A permanent grant administrator of the St. Joseph County Remonumentation Program was approved last week. Jerry Happel, who began his employment with the county last month as its GIS director, was approved for the position by county commissioners. He fills the appointed spot held by Ken Syers Jr. Also last week, the county commission accepted the letter of resignation from …

One of several people charged in connection with the November 2015 burglary of Outpost Guns in Sturgis was sentenced last month in federal court in Grand Rapids. According to the Department of Justice, Kevonte Derome McNeely, 24, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced Aug. 31 to five years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of …

Members of the Sturgis Planning Commission last week approved a site plan for a proposed four-diamond, adult softball complex. But bids for construction are coming in higher than expected and new ideas are being proposed for expanding the $ 2.1 million project. City Manager Mike Hughes told planning commissioners that Sturgis received only two bids for the project that will …

St. Joseph County commissioners last week approved a grant renewal with the Michigan Department of Corrections. The $175,000 Community Corrections Grant will benefit the county by providing services to enhance jail utilization, reduce the prison commitment rate and impact recidivism, according to terms of the agreement. $70,000 of the grant will be earmarked for the Day Reporting Center, $56,000 to …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce regrets to announce it is canceling the fourth “Treasures of St. Joseph County.” Chamber President and CEO Christy Trammell said interest in the 2016 event – a takeoff on the concept of “The Amazing Race” – was not strong enough to justify the effort and cost of staging the event. It was originally …