County Information

A Jackson-based company was selected last week to replace the existing wireless connection at the county’s Animal Control facility. County commission members have accepted a $6,100 bid from Challenger Technologies LLC to install fiber-optic cable from Animal Control to the sheriff’s department. Teresa Doehring, county human resources director, said the replacement will significantly improve the quality and reliability of data …

The Michigan Department of Transportation is awarding a transportation economic development grant that will support 750 new jobs in Branch County. MDOT officials said the Transportation Economic Development Fund grant totaling nearly $2.6 million will leverage $255 million in private investment. Pennsylvania-based Clemens Food Group is partnering with a number of family-owned farms in Michigan and Ohio to process pork …

Two area attorneys were added to St. Joseph County’s Contract Defender System. Following action Tuesday last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Luke Nofsinger and Kevin Kane were included to the roster of contract defenders. The change was necessary following Kevin Kleidon’s passing earlier this year. For housekeeping reasons, Kleidon’s name was removed from the roster.

A clerk at the Admiral gas station at 1207 E. Chicago Road in Sturgis was robbed early Monday. Sturgis police were informed that a man had robbed the station at gunpoint shortly after midnight, taking an undisclosed amount of money. No additional details are available, as police are working with store officials to investigate the incident.

Approval was granted last week for an employee from St. Joseph County Circuit Court to attend four out-of-state conferences in the coming year. Members of the county commission gave consent for Kathryn Griffin to attend conferences related to National Association for Court Management. Griffin, circuit and probate court administrator, is an elected member of the NACM’s board of directors. In …

Due to a delay in curing of concrete, the newly installed Decker Road bridge will not open until Nov. 18, according to the St. Joseph County Road Commission. The bridge, located in Colon Township, initially was scheduled to open this week.

A candlelight memorial for Jodi Parrack took place Sunday at Cannon Park in Constantine. Thirty sky lanterns were released, as more than 40 people attended the event. Parrack was a victim of homicide in 2007. Her mother, Jo Gilson, has held a vigil annually since then. Gilson, however, said this is the last candlelight vigil she plans to stage. Daniel …

St. Joseph County officials have amended a food-service contract with Canteen Services of Tekonsha. County commission members last week endorsed the restructured agreement, which replaces wording in the previous pact that dated to 2000, county administrator Pat Yoder said, adding that an updated agreement reflecting current sheriff’s department administrators is in place. The new contract reflects a five-year agreement with …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a statement in which it is estimated about half of all cases of shingles occur in men and women 60 years of age and older. Consequently, the agency is recommending people in that age group consider getting vaccinated. The department may be able to help people who are older than 60 years …

The Centreville Downtown Development Authority is taking steps to ensure its area veterans are acknowledged on more than just a few occasions through the year. Coinciding with a ceremony taking place Wednesday, the DDA plans to unveil a pair of banners and dedicate a portion of village sidewalk as a symbolic thank you to local residents for their military service. …