County Information

The 2015 tax rates for Sturgis city property owners will remain unchanged from a year ago. The Sturgis City Commission recently set the general-operating tax rate at 10.0285 mills and continued a 3-mill levy approved by city voters in 2014 for street and sidewalk improvements. According to Ken Rhodes, city clerk/treasurer, the operating tax rate – about $10.03 for each …

Two members of the Three Rivers Fire Department were recently promoted. Paul Schoon, an 11-year full-time employee, was named captain. Meanwhile, Chad Witt was promoted to lieutenant. He joined the agency in 2010. A pinning ceremony to formalize the occasion took place June 16 before the Three Rivers City Commission.

Hamilton Harley-Davidson in Sturgis is offering a special program to complement the parent company’s support of U.S. veterans. Co-owner Tom Hamilton said the Sturgis location will provide free motorcycle rental for a day to any veteran or current member of the Armed Forces. It’s the first program of its kind in the country, said Cathi Abbs, executive director of Sturgis …

Three Rivers police K-9 Hondo passed away last month at Michigan State University following a battle with cancer. Hondo had worked for the department the past five years. Officer Matt Stark, Hondo’s handler, said his companion was a happy and loyal dog. In his five years on the force, Hondo was able to help police locate several fugitives in and …

The Colon Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its 2015 Citizens of the Year are Joseph and Paige Smolarz. During their 25 years in Colon they have become deeply entrenched in the Colon community and extremely active in school and community events. Village trustee Edith Doenges said Joe is an avid supporter of the village’s police and fire departments, allowing …

St. Joseph County commissioners recently gave their approval to a request made by circuit court judge Paul Stutesman regarding an out-of-state travel notice. In a memo to commissioners, Stutesman stated he would like court administrator Kathy Griffin to attend the National Association for Court Management’s annual conference in Louisville, Ky. Two nights of lodging during the weeklong conference later this …

Speed and alcohol may have been factors in a one-vehicle crash that injured a woman Tuesday in Nottawa Township, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff ’s Department. Deputies said Jennifer Ann Bainbridge was driving west on Cupp Road near the intersection of Walterspaugh about 1:30 p.m., when the vehicle left the road just east of Walterspaugh. The car slid …

Members of Colon Community Schools Board of Education recently took a pass on the idea of buying an ice and water dispenser as an income-generating concept. During discussion of the issue at their June school board meeting, district officials agreed that under different circumstances and in more prosperous times, the proposal might receive more serious consideration. Board members agreed that …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging board has asked county commissioners to reappoint Dawn Everett, Allen Balog, Jim MacTavish, Chuck Thompson and Barb Fisher to new two-year COA board terms. In a related matter, trustees re-appointed officers including Margaret Shultz, chairman; Jon Withers, vice chairman; Charles Willer, treasurer; and Thompson as secretary.

White Pigeon officials have announced the village’s citizens of the year are the Rev. Wilbur Brandli and wife, Gloria. The couple arrived in White Pigeon in November 1968, coming from Paterson, N.J. In their early days in White Pigeon, the couple took on the challenge of a small church ministry along with their son, Tim, and their daughter, Gail. The …