County Information

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering has filed for re-election for a second four-year term. Ratering recently submitted to the county clerk’s office paperwork with enough signatures to be on the ballot in the August primary. Sturgis resident Gwen Donmeyer has also declared her candidacy. The 56-year-old Ratering was appointed by a statutory committee in February 2012 from a pool …

Members of the Sherman Township Planning Commission have agreed to issue a special land-use permit to two brothers for a 25-site camp facility. Proposed by Ben and Jamey Rouch of Three Rivers, the campground could potentially include cabins up to 400 square feet. It also may feature tent and RV camping. The Rouchs said they would like to include an …

Sturgis city commissioners have vetoed a staff plan that would have revived a seven-member citizens committee to prioritize sidewalk projects and advise the commission on sidewalk policy issues. The vote was 5-4. The commissioner’s majority said they do not believe a citizens committee is necessary to prioritize sidewalk needs, instead leaving the recommendations to city staff with commissioners approving final …

THREE RIVERS, MI – Three Rivers Health is pleased to announce Jonathan Sanner, Physical Therapist – Outpatient Physical Therapy; Lisa Cooper, Physical Therapist – Inpatient Rehabilitation; Abby Bogucki, Front Desk Attendant – HealthTRAC; Vanessa Schwartz, Physical Therapy Technician – Outpatient Physical Therapy; and Erin Bozell, Practice Management Coordinator, for being selected as our Employees of the Quarter for the first …

Saturday’s household-hazardous-waste collection and electronics recycling was a record-setting event, according to its organizers. Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said the four-hour event at the county fairgrounds resulted in the collection of 11,000 pounds of household hazardous waste, up from about 8,500 pounds a year ago; 1,200 tires, double the amount from spring 2015; …

A member of the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has announced her candidacy for the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education. Erin Harrington, 37, filed paperwork last week for the four-year term. The post will be decided in November A Portage native, Harrington is the chief assistant prosecutor and president of the county’s bar association. Harrington said she is …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one-tenth 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 3.8 percent March unemployment rate was greater than February’s 3.7 percent. March’s unemployment rate was 1 percent less than the same month one year …

A team of Three Rivers High School students that spearheaded a safe-driving campaign over the past few months has been recognized for its efforts. Members found out last week they came in second place and were awarded a $1,250 cash prize. The teens facilitated three events that provided the school’s student body with tips about safe driving during the winter …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees voted this week to proceed with the bidding, design and construction of a $6.5 million, 120-bed student housing facility. Subject to final approval on a USDA low-interest loan, the proposed four-story building would begin with a groundbreaking expected to take place in early summer with plans for the facility to open with the …

The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council has honored the St. Joseph County Road Commission with a 2016 TAMC Organization Award. The award was presented last week during the annual TAMC Spring Conference in Dearborn. Chris Minger, St. Joseph County’s Managing Director, told TAMC that the Centreville-based road commission has spent many hours developing five year plans with various funding balances. …