County Information

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board approved two significant expenditures last week. During their monthly meeting Wednesday, commissioners OK’d a $1.2 million package that features the construction of an equipment barn and a plan to correct a roofline problem that creates an annual, springtime problem. The barn, projected to cost more than $825,000, will be put in …

Organizers behind this year’s Paddle For Paws fundraiser have announced the event has been postponed a month due to circumstances beyond their control. Sponsored by Upcycled Pets of St. Joseph County, Paddle For Paws is a benefit to help the Three Rivers-based organization offset food and medical expenses associated with foster pets in the program. The event was supposed to …

A Mendon couple was injured over the weekend after their vehicle was struck by a car in Kalamazoo County. The incident occurred at 2:50 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of South Eighth Street and West S Avenue in Texas Township. Investigators said a 61-year-old Texas Township woman was driving east on West S Avenue when she disregarded a stop sign …

White Pigeon Community Schools has been given a waiver to begin the school year a week before the traditional day-after-Labor Day start. Superintendent Jon Keyer said in addition to the state-mandated additional five days added to the 2016-17 school year, the desire to start Aug. 29 instead of Sept. 6 is to stay consistent with Glen Oaks Community College and …

A day after robbing a 60-year-old Colon woman and dragging her with a vehicle, two 16-year-old Sturgis boys have been arrested. Each is charged with assault/unarmed robbery and use of a computer in the commission of a felony. Authorities have not released their names because they are juveniles. Police said another suspect, a 19- year-old from Sturgis, was questioned in …

Enhanced security measures will likely be employed when the St. Joseph County Road Commission consolidates operations to its Centreville location. Members of the road commission board last week discussed the issue of security, stemming from an incident last month when an estimated two tons of road material was illegally taken from the Colon Township satellite barn. With plans to close …

The May unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by two-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 3.6 percent May unemployment rate was greater than April’s 3.4 percent. However, May’s unemployment rate was 1.2 percent less than the same month one …

Apples, peaches and blueberries are all Michigan-grown fruits that can be purchased at roadside stands with help from a state agency. Through Project Fresh, mothers and children who receive WIC benefits can now pick up their coupons and use them to purchase fresh produce at participating farmer’s markets. Each qualifying participant can receive $20 in coupons that can be redeemed …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board on Wednesday reacted to complaints registered by a Florence Township official the night before. Township supervisor Gordon Evilsizor addressed the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, continuing his campaign in support of a plan to improve Constantine Road. Evilsizor simultaneously criticized the board of commissioners for not developing a …

Glen Oaks Community College President David Devier was the recipient of high marks from the school’s board of trustees during his evaluation this week. The board evaluation included 48 questions covering six functional areas of performance. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being “significantly exceeds expectations,” Devier’s overall rating was 4.39, representing an increase over his 2015 …