County Information

There were fewer traffic crashes and alcohol-related arrests in St. Joseph County last year compared to 2022. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman provided a wealth of data to St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners during their monthly meeting Tuesday. Bingaman was in attendance to give the sheriff’s department’s 2023 annual report. According to information provided by Bingaman, there were 611 crashes in …

A thorny subject related to an alleged conflict of interest was revisited by St. Joseph County commissioners during their executive committee meeting May 14. The issue started in April, when county commissioners voted 4-3 to remove Dennis Allen from the board’s law enforcement committee. Commissioners voting for removal agreed Allen is in a position of conflict as a candidate for …

The National Weather Service has now surveyed the damage and confirms an EF2 tornado touched down in St. Joseph County on Tuesday. The survey team says the tornado touched down one mile south of Centreville at 5:41pm, and then tracked northeast, passed north of Colon, then crossed into Branch County. The tornado finally weakened and lifted three miles southwest of …

Areas of St. Joseph and Branch counties, and elsewhere in Southwest Michigan, are recovering from damage caused by a fierce storm that tore through the area late Tuesday afternoon. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman reported power outages and widespread damage, including exceptionally heavy destruction in and around portions of Nottawa, Colon, and Leonidas townships in St. Joseph County. A pole barn adjacent …

Thursday’s collection of household hazardous waste and electronics recycling was labeled “average” by event organizers. Pat Kulikowski, St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee secretary, said the four-hour collection at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds got off to a strong start then slowed considerably around the halfway point. Initial figures show 8,000 pounds of household hazardous waste was collected, while about …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed with the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce to present a St. Joseph County Political Forum. The two-night event will feature candidates for a number of local races. The first, which will start at 5 p.m. May 29th, will showcase the two contestants for drain commissioner followed by candidates for the five-person …

St. Joseph County Road Commission Board members plan to recognize five individuals who have had what agency officials said is a lasting impact on the organization’s mission. They are: Dave Allen, commissioner from 2011 through 2021 Rick Anderson, commissioner, 2007-2017 John Bippus, commissioner 2011-2020 Dave Yunker, commissioner 2006-2016 and Eric Shafer, commissioner since 2011 Agency officials said the five were …

The estimated $7.7 million renovation of the county courts building highlights what to expect from St. Joseph County government in the coming 12 months. The 50-year-old courts building houses circuit, district and probate/family court operations. The courts building is at the south end of the courthouse campus and connected to the county’s historic courthouse by an interior breezeway. A portion …

November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by more than a full percentage point from October. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.6 percent in October to 3.5 percent in November. The county’s November rate from a year earlier was an even …

St. Joseph County officials agreed to renew a contract with Kalamazoo County for year-round disposal of household hazardous waste. During their monthly board meeting Dec. 19, commissioners OK’d a proposal to continue the arrangement that started in May. County administrator Teresa Doehring said the service is provided to St. Joseph County residents and allows for drop-off of hard-to-dispose-of items such …