County Information

The trio of Three Rivers school board members targeted for a recall has appealed a vote taken two weeks ago by the St. Joseph County Election Commission. On the final day for which the appeal could be filed, Diana DeGraaf, Pete Bennett and Erin Nowak submitted Monday the necessary paperwork to county clerk Lindsay Oswald. They are appealing a Nov. …

A Jackson County judge Monday dismissed a series of claims, filed by the board that oversees the County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County, against the county commission. During an hour-long hearing in Jackson County Circuit Court, Judge Robert LaFlamme granted a motion for summary disposition. The move essentially means a victory for the county …

Officials from the utility Indiana Michigan Power said public access to a popular fishing area in Mottville Township will be restricted until next year. Company spokeswoman Erica Putt said the tail-water fishing area on the west side of the St. Joseph River – accessible off North River Road – will be closed temporarily starting today for substation construction. The area …

A Marcellus woman was injured over the weekend after she swerved the car she was driving to avoid striking a deer in the roadway. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said Tina Rosen, 43, was driving on McKenzie Street near Lawrence Road in Volinia Township at 7:35 a.m. Sunday when she lost control of her vehicle. The car rolled over after …

A public hearing on the county’s 2016 fiscal-year budget highlights this afternoon’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Also on the agenda is the annual report from the Economic Development Corporation, and discussion and possible action regarding a labor agreement with the correction’s sergeant’s division of the Fraternal Order of Police. The meeting starts at 5 o’clock in the …

A Vandalia woman died in a house fire over the weekend in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said deputies were summoned shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday to the 61000 Block of Lewis Lake Road – four miles west of Jones – in response to a house fire. Upon arrival, deputies observed the house was fully engulfed by …

St. Joseph County’s nine public school districts will share a rebate in excess of $230,000 of 2014-15 unspent special-education reserves. St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, overseer of the county’s special education services for qualified people up to age 26, will pay the districts in three installments, according to superintendent Barb Marshall. The first payment was scheduled to take place …

Changes in school start times and bus routes are prompting a new traffic order for bus-loading and student pick-ups at Congress School in Sturgis. As a result, members of the Sturgis City Commission have approved a new traffic-control order that moves the school-bus loading zone from Walker Avenue to East Congress Street. Consequently, all remaining student pick-ups will occur on …

Members of the Three Rivers Water Festival Planning Committee are inviting anyone interested in helping organize the 2016 event to a special meeting this evening. The 60th annual community festival takes place June 16, 17 and 18, and event organizers are seeking input regarding ideas for a theme, activities and entertainment. Today’s meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Three …

Three Rivers Health Board of Trustees reported a net income of more than $145,000 for October and net income in excess of $314,000 for the year to date. The financial update was provided during the hospital’s recent board meeting. In addition, preparation continues for the 2016 operating and capital budgets, and the Studer Groups Leadership Evaluation Manager program continues on …