County Information

Sturgis Township trustees have endorsed a request from the city of Sturgis for $1.6 million from the St. Joseph County delinquent-tax fund to help finance a proposed $2 million sports complex. Township Supervisor George Morse during Monday’s meeting said the city’s plan would facilitate the expansion of existing business, job creation and more recreation opportunities for local residents. Sturgis is …

Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County has announced the St. Joseph County Health Center will end primary-care services effective Oct. 16 and close for good Nov. 6. The move comes after members of the CMH board in July decided to end the agency’s relationship with the St Joseph County Health Center Board, which was not …

Fourteen items, including two employment agreements and a pair of requests to fill vacancies, await the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this afternoon. The agenda for the 5 o’clock meeting also includes memorandums of understanding for SCAN renewals with the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers, acceptance of a bid to demolish a structure at 205 Dean St., and …

Alcohol and speed were cited by authorities as potential factors in a single-vehicle accident Saturday in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s officials said a 61-year-old Elkhart man was driving at a high rate of speed north on U.S. 131, where he lost control of his vehicle near the north junction of the U.S. 131 Business Route. The man’s pickup left the roadway …

A request by Three Rivers High School to stage a fireworks display during its football team’s senior night will be up for discussion at tonight’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners will consider authorizing a permit for the display, scheduled to take place Oct. 16. Also on the agenda is discussion on accepting financial support from …

Riverside Elementary School in Constantine received a $10,000 grant last week from the Monsanto Company. The grant will be used to pay for 100 fifth-grade students to go to the Outdoor Education Center and Clear Lake Camp later this month. School counselor Steffany Predosa said the camp costs about $150 per student, and the grant pays for all costs, including …

Two men were arrested last week after police were called to the 300 block of South Clay Street in Sturgis to investigate a stabbing incident. Joshua Michael Wood, 28, was arrested early Friday on outstanding warrants and Jared Michael Payton, 26, was charged with assault with intent to murder. Payton remains in jail with a $250,000 cash/surety bond. A 35-year-old …

A long-time fixture with a local agency has announced he will be retiring. After 40 years with Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, including the past nine as health officer, Steve Todd said he will retire in January. The agency recently announced it received its sixth letter of accreditation, the only local health department to earn that number. The past two …

The case of a former Centreville High School teacher charged with criminal sexual conduct has been bound over to circuit court for trial. St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeff Middleton last week took the action after hearing testimony from two former students of Terry Miller. Prosecutor John McDonough is charging Miller with 107 counts of misconduct for allegedly touching …

A major north-south route in St. Joseph County closed since July for bridge construction reopened this week. Crews from Hudsonville-based Grand River Construction on Thursday lifted the Silver Street detour in Mendon Township after completing construction of a new bridge at the Portage River. The job was a full rebuild to replace a bridge that crew foreman Dean Stewart said …