County Information

The St. Joseph County Conservation District has announced the dates of its 2015 river cleanup events. The seven cleanups mark the fifth consecutive year of what is expected to be a six-year effort to clean all 150 miles of rivers in the county. Scheduled cleanups and dates are: the Rocky River June 6 in Flowerfield Township; the Prairie River June …

Three personnel matters were approved last Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Tim Barnes was promoted from road patrol officer to road patrol sergeant at $26.81 an hour retroactive to Jan. 27. A salary for Kitty Buchner was also approved. Starting April 1, Buchner will serve as jail administrator as the successor to the retiring Tim Schuler. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller was a visible figure in the community last week. Miller spent the day Friday making public appearances at locations in Centreville and Colon. The 27-year-old freshman representative spent a portion of the morning at the St. Joseph County Health Center in Centreville. Miller was given a tour of the facility and later met with representatives to …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is accepting advance orders for its annual spring tree sale. Though quantities are limited, the advance sale is on through April 1. Nine different conifers – ranging from blue spruce and red pine to balsam fir – and a variety of eight deciduous trees – including black cherry, red maple and hazelnut – are …

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.