County Information

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved ballot language for a millage request being sought this spring by the county road commission. At stake May 3 will be a request of up to 2.5 mills, which would yield more than $5.4 million annually over a 10-year period. Road commission members last month approved a plan that would call …

The St. Joseph County United Way made history with its Campaign 2016. Agency officials during Tuesday’s annual Victory Celebration announced $861,785 was raised over the 12-month period. The figure surpassed its goal of $825,000 and is the most ever collected for the Centreville-based agency’s annual campaign United Way executive director Kelly Hostetler said the county’s No. 1 contributor was Morgan …

State police arrested an Inkster man last weekend after he fled from authorities just north of Park Township. The incident occurred after a motorist was reported speeding and passing vehicles on the shoulder of U.S. 131 around 11:30 a.m. Sunday north of Three Rivers. A trooper who was conducting a separate traffic stop near the Kalamazoo County line witnessed the …

Charges are expected to be filed after Three Rivers Police noticed drug activity Sunday in the 100 block of North Andrews Street. According to a department media release, officers were notified of the illegal activity and noticed the aroma of marijuana as they arrived at the residence. A search warrant was secured and officers found marijuana and evidence of drug …

Caretakers from Binder Park Zoo and Black Pine Animal Sanctuary worked several hours Friday to remove exotic animals from a Mottville Township residence. Meanwhile, Jessica Achberger, 40, and Troy Leiby, 40, were arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges, and keeping exotic animals without a license. They were released from jail Friday after posting 10 percent of a $5,000 cash/surety bond. …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Robin Baker of said last week he will not seek re-election to an eighth term this fall. Baker, 64, indicated his intention after he turned down the vice chairman position for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency during its monthly meeting Thursday. Baker spent more than 25 years with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department before retiring …

The December unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by four-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 3.1 percent December unemployment rate was less than November’s 3.5 percent. December’s unemployment rate was 1.1 percent less than the same month one year …

A Marcellus woman was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital after she was involved in a two-vehicle accident last week in Park Township. State police said Sheri Bethard, 53, was westbound on Heimbach Road attempting to cross the northbound lane of U.S. 131 shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday, when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Nancy Visel, 62, …

Sturgis city commissioners have called for the repeal of a new state law that prohibits using public funds to communicate any information to voters in the 60 days prior to any local election. City leaders said state law already prohibited use of public money to advocate for support or rejection of a ballot proposal, millage issue or candidate election. But …

Three Rivers High School has been named an award-winning school by U.S. News and World Report. The publication named the high school a bronze-level winner in the “America’s Best High School 2015” contest. A number of factors are used to determine which schools qualify at which level, Principal Carrie Balk said. In the case of Three Rivers, it has improved …