County Information

Details about the St. Joseph County College Access Network were provided recently during a meeting of the St. Joseph County School Board Association. Tracy Harker and Claudia Pahls reported that the College Access Network, which stems from Sturgis Public Schools’ SUCCESS program and strives to help students find their way to college, is now a countywide program thanks to the …

Five candidates hoping to land the 18-month appointment of county clerk and register of deeds were interviewed Wednesday. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, who will ultimately select the appointed successor to Pattie Bender, said second interviews will likely be staged within the next two weeks. Stutesman was joined by a panel of four additional people – Bender, …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce is warning about a phone scam that has been reported by area residents. The caller asks the potential victim to verify information about their debit card. The alleged verification process is conducted by entering information through the telephone’s push buttons. Anyone who has entered information in this manner is urged to call their …

The village of Constantine has formed a new committee to study sources of funding for anticipated needs by the Constantine Fire Department. The Fire Funding Exploratory Committee was formed after fire Chief Mike Haydon gave the village, and Constantine and Florence townships, notice that the department must replace two trucks and the fire department building within the next 10 years. …

The fate of a contract for shared superintendent services with Centreville Public Schools was decided Tuesday, when members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education extended the agreement through the 2015-16 academic year. Whether Rob Kuhlman will continue to serve in that capacity, however, won’t be decided until March. Board members with Centreville Public Schools last fall approved a …

State Rep. Aaron Miller on Tuesday announced that Sturgis will receive a state grant to upgrade a major roadway linking U.S. 12 to a local industrial park. Miller said the Transportation Economic Development Grant, in excess of $171,000, will be used to upgrade White School Road from U.S. 12 to Progress Street, and Progress Street to the west Sturgis city …

The city of Sturgis is offering a battery recycling program. The pilot program will allow people to drop off household and other types of batteries at the Doyle Center during its business hours. While just about all kinds of batteries are accepted, a full list is available through a link on the city’s website: sturgismi.gov.

The Three Rivers Fire Department responded shortly after 10 a.m. Monday to a structure fire. Crews were dispatched to 509 Thomas Street, Apt. 4, where they found smoke coming from the lower level of the three-story apartment building. Crews had the fire under control in less than 10 minutes. Three occupants were displaced due to the fire, which was contained …

A Sturgis residence is expected to be declared a total loss following a fire last week. The Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched at 7 a.m. Friday to a single-family residence at 316 S. Maple St. Upon arrival, firefighters noticed heavy smoke coming from the roof vents at the rear of the residence, according to a department media release. All residents …

State Rep. Aaron Miller, a high school teacher by trade, plans a busy month of March to help promote March Is Reading Month. Miller plans on reading to students in five different St. Joseph County school districts at various points during the month. His itinerary includes March 2 at Eastwood School in Sturgis; March 6 at Colon Elementary; March 9 …