County Information

The first of what will likely be several public accolades bestowed upon Steve Todd occurred during this week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Todd, who is retiring next week following a career of more than 40 years with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, was the recipient of a resolution approved by the five-member commission Tuesday. Todd reflected …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners will maintain its regular meeting schedule for 2016, following action taken Tuesday. Commissioners agreed to keep their twice-a-month meetings the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Start time will remain 5 p.m. Also, commissioners set their executive committee meetings for 8 a.m. the Wednesday prior to county commission meetings. Executive committee meetings are …

Three Rivers Police this week arrested a man considered a fugitive with multiple felony warrants for his arrest issued from Calhoun County. According to a department media release, the man was spotted around 11:30 a.m. Monday on Canal Street. As an officer attempted to approach the man, he tried to avoid the officer. The man was warned to stop or …

Officials from the Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant have announced the results of bacteria samples taken from the St. Joseph River. Doug Humbert, head of the plant, said the test was taken shortly before 11 a.m. Monday before the system resumed its distribution of chlorine. Its supply of chlorine was exhausted late Thursday last week. Humbert said the fecal coliform …

A new leader of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners was selected Tuesday. Allen Balog, who represents Flowerfield and Fabius townships, and the city of Three Rivers, will lead the five-man panel in 2016 following his nomination and unanimous approval as chairman. Balog, 59, previously spent three of his four years on the Three Rivers City Commission as mayor. …

An official with the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority has apologized and expressed regret to anyone unable to secure a ride through the agency’s Free Ride Home last week. Joe Cooper, operations manager of the Three Rivers-based agency, said the CTA featured incorrect phone numbers on promotional materials it advertised and distributed for anyone wishing a free ride home New …

State police officials are investigating break-ins to several residences last week in White Pigeon Township. The incidents occurred in the 68000 block of Hill Street around 5 p.m. Friday. Victims reported the stolen items were primarily televisions and home electronics. Residents in the area reported seeing a red pickup truck of unknown make/model in the area around the time the …

St. Joseph County’s newest residents – the first born in 2016 at Three Rivers Health and at Sturgis Hospital – were born Jan. 2. Damian Paul Bucher made his arrival at 5:33 a.m. Saturday. He weighed more than five pounds and was more than 18 inches long. Damian joins three sisters; his parents are Three Rivers residents Ryan Bucher and …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will open the year with four items of new business during their first meeting of 2016 this afternoon. Matters of consideration include memorandums of understanding with the village of Centreville and Park Township for shared grant-writer duties. Also on the agenda is setting the meeting dates and times for 2016 commission …

The Animal Control Shelter Advisory Board will be adding two new members in 2016. During their Dec. 15 meeting, St. Joseph County commissioners approved a request to expand the advisory board’s size from eight to 10 members. The two new positions call for at-large representation. County administrator Pat Yoder said the change in advisory board bylaws was required by the …