County Information

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week praised Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding for classrooms and continues to build a solid public-safety foundation. Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the 2015-2016 budget pays down debt while prioritizing spending for transportation, education and law enforcement. Miller said the budget, after …

The week-long Sturgis Fest community celebration continues with a blood drive, today’s only scheduled event. The blood drive takes place 12:30 to 5:45 at the Doyle Community Center. Wednesday’s main feature is Family Night, 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Franks Park. Activities will include carnival games, a dog contest and an old-time baseball game at 6:30.

St. Joseph County’s newest recreation-related attraction is open for business, as the dog park at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township was dedicated Friday. The fenced-in, five-acre property is divided into a four-acre area for larger dogs and one acre for smaller dogs. Parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said pet owners will have to use their best judgment but …

A 20-year veteran has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the Three Rives Community Schools Board of Education. During a special meeting last week, board members selected Susan Schmidtendorff to fill the remaining term created by Dave Kutz’s vacancy. Kutz recently resigned his seat, citing conflicts with work. Six people in all applied for the spot, though Dan Tomlinson …

Organizers of the 59th Three Rivers Water Festival are calling the three-day celebration a success. Christy Trammell, director of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, said strong crowds were a part of the festival starting with Thursday’s opening-night parade and concluding with Saturday’s event-ending fireworks display. Trammell said ideal weather and a variety of activities were beneficial to the …

A 30-year-old Jones woman entered a plea of no contest in a case related to an early-morning arson at a Three Rivers business last year. Fawn Mott appeared in St. Joseph County Circuit Court last week on a charge of arson, third degree, from a June 23 incident at the Three Rivers Walmart. Judge Paul Stutesman revoked Mott’s $50,000 bond …

St. Joseph County and its Commission on Aging will break ground at 9 a.m. Tuesday for the senior service agency’s new Sturgis facility. Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, said the amount of monthly rent her agency will pay for space in the new South County Community Enrichment Center still has not been set. Last week, however, Coursey told her board …

Narcotics Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant last week on East Main Street in Sturgis. SCAN officers received information about a residence in the 700 block that was reported to have illegal drug activity. After further investigation officers were able to obtain a search warrant. Officers subsequently found methamphetamine and numerous items associated …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is advising the public to be aware of a phone scam reported this week by a Fabius Township resident. Deputies were dispatched Tuesday to the 56000 Block of Shady Lane for a complaint regarding fraud. The victim told authorities she was contacted over the phone and told she and her spouse were being pursued …

A former Three Rivers High School teacher who had pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor embezzlement was sentenced Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Judge Robert Pattison sentenced Sara Freeman, 33, to 180 days in the St. Joseph County jail. Freeman, a Burr Oak resident, will serve 120 days of the sentence, with 60 days deferred. She …