County Information

It’s election day and voters in three St. Joseph County communities will head to the polls. In Three Rivers, a newcomer is expected to join three incumbents to the municipality’s seven-member city commission. All four positions are uncontested, meaning 16-year mayor Tom Lowry will oversee the commission for at least two more years. Joining him will be Jared Hoffmaster and …

For the second time in 2015, Sturgis voters will decide how many dogs can be kept at any single-family residence inside the city limits, without requiring an approved kennel designation. In May, voters rejected a proposed ordinance amendment that would have lifted any limit on the number of dogs at Sturgis properties. Following that vote, several residents asked the commission …

Burr Oak Community Schools again will ask voters to approve a 3-mill, five-year sinking fund request. The Nov. 3 request is identical to what was on the ballot in the May 5 election, when voters defeated the measure, 111-91. The millage would bring approximately $125,000 per year for the schools for the next five years for a total of $625,000. …

Thirteen items, including a request for funds for the Child Trauma Assessment Group, await the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this afternoon. Other matters on today’s agenda include labor agreements with three governmental units, a request for a letter of support from Covered Bridge Healthcare, a request to fill the position of deputy equalizer and a request to close …

The Michigan Supreme Court said Anthony and Marsha Springer, parents of the late Calista Springer, are entitled to a hearing in St. Joseph County Circuit Court to determine whether their attorney provided ineffective assistance in 2010. Springer was the 16-year-old Centreville girl who died in a 2008 house fire while chained to her bed. A jury subsequently convicted Anthony, 52, and …

Three of the area’s four state football playoff teams bowed out in the opening round of action Friday. The fourth, Constantine, pulled off an upset in topping previously unbeaten and state No. 2-ranked Schoolcraft. Constantine’s Tristian Butler kicked an overtime field goal to lift the Falcons over the Eagles, 31-28, in Division 6 action. Elsewhere, Mendon saw its 27-game win …

Jury selection is set to begin today in St. Joseph County Circuit Court for the trial of Marie Audrey-Louise Williams. Williams is accused of shooting Dennis Brooks in the head as the two argued on Townline Road in Burr Oak Township in March 2014. Williams was arrested after telling police she shot Brooks. She has been held in the St. …

At its October meeting, Three Rivers Health Board of Trustees reported preparation of the 2016 operating and capital budgets have begun. Also, the finalized 2016 operating plan was presented for review in the format of the Studer Groups Leadership Evaluation Manager. Once reviewed and approved, these LEMS will be used for the leader’s performance evaluations at the end of 2016. …

Trick-or-treat hours for Halloween Saturday night vary from community to community. In Three Rivers, hours are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In addition, the annual Halloweenie Roast will begin at 5 p.m. and continue while supplies last. The Three Rivers Moose Lodge will host a trunk or treat 4 to 7 p.m. The village of Centreville has trick-or-treat hours 5 to …

Patrol officers with the Sturgis Police Department will be outfitted with body-camera technology in the next two to three weeks. Sturgis city commissioners this week approved a five-year contract to purchase the hardware and data storage. Geoffrey Smith, director of public safety for the city of Sturgis, recommended the no-bid purchase, saying Arizona-based Taser International is the only firm that …