County Information

A decision on who will be appointed to serve an 18-month term as county clerk and register of deeds could be made next week. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said the four-person team that interviewed finalists Tabitha Wedge and Lindsay Oswald this week will reconvene Tuesday morning and discuss their thoughts in detail. Stutesman, who is obligated …

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County will stage an annual fundraiser this weekend. Pizza For Paws, featuring an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, takes place 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Country Table restaurant in White Pigeon. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 12 years and younger. In addition to the pizza buffet, the cost includes …

The eighth annual meeting of the Friends of the St. Joe River Watershed Council will take place later this month in Sturgis. The gathering, which includes a keynote speaker, presentation of the Watershed Stewardship Award, dinner, a cash bar and a silent auction, will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. March 20 at the Sturgis-Young Auditorium. Silent auction items …

A river trail master plan was approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The action is a critical step toward St. Joseph County being in a position to showcase and promote its paddling opportunities to canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Put together by St. Joseph-based Edgewater Resources, the master plan was assembled following two public-input sessions during which …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch wishes to advise the public it will be testing the severe-weather sirens this weekend. Beginning at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, sirens in all communities countywide will be activated as part of the testing process. On the first Saturday of each month from March to October, the department conducts a test of the sirens. During this weekend’s …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has begun to install seasonal weight-restriction signs in anticipation of rules going into effect next week. The website stjoeroads.com or the agency’s Facebook page will have details regarding the date when restrictions will be enforced. Seasonal weight restriction permits can be downloaded from the website as well.

Two semi-tractor trailers collided late Monday at the intersection of U.S. 131 and U.S. 12 in White Pigeon. Michigan State Police said Thomas Kruzel, 54, of Niles, was driving east on U.S. 12 and began to make a left turn onto U.S. 131 when his truck struck a northbound semi driven by James Sheets, 61, of Roanoke, Ind. Sheets failed …

Longtime local volunteer, George Cole, died Monday evening at Three Rivers Health, following a brief illness. Cole, age 88, served the community in a variety of activities, including a 17 year term as secretary of UAW Local 1253 and a 68 year membership in Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3019. He also served as an active participant in local American …

A Three Rivers man suspected of committing criminal sexual acts with children at his girlfriend’s daycare center was arraigned Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Cary Jones, 46, faces nine counts of child criminal sexual conduct. Jones is suspected of the alleged crimes that allegedly took place at the Abracadabra childcare center beginning in 2011 until last month. Jones …

The City of Sturgis Department of Public Services is asking residents to be conscious of freezing water lines. With the cold temperatures and the depth of the frost, the risk of frozen water lines is extremely great. It is recommended that residents allow a slow stream of water to run from a single faucet. Anyone whose residence has frozen water …