County Information

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week made its annual appropriation to the county’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Commissioners budgeted more than $257,000 to the Centreville-based agency. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agency this year will be allocated an additional $90,000 to rectify a previous accounting error. As a result, $86, 817 will be transferred …

Members of St. Joseph County’s AFSCME general unit will continue to have the option to work four, 10-hour days. County commissioners last week approved the concept after it was offered for the balance of the year in 2014 starting in May. County administrator Pat Yoder said based on his observations and feedback, the opportunity worked well. The option is available …

Members of St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners have agreed to keep their twice-a-month meetings at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Meanwhile, the five-member commission also decided this week to continue staging its executive committee meetings at 8 a.m. the Wednesday before a commission meeting. Matters discussed during the executive committee sessions are typically in-depth …

A number of employment agreements were approved this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Cathleen Carpenter, Dawn Gest, Alex Milliman, Heather Teadt and Nancy Gamble will serve as Juvenile Day Treatment monitors for $14 an hour through May 30. In a separate personnel matter, Kimberly Jent was hired as COA home-care aide at a rate of $10.70 …

Two people have been arrested in connection with last weekend’s armed robbery at the Marathon gas station on South Centerville Road in Sturgis. The suspects, a male and female, both 20, are in the St. Joseph County jail. Names were withheld pending arraignment. Public Safety Director Geoff Smith said the public played a major role in the investigation through numerous tips …

The most-tenured employee for St. Joseph County government announced Tuesday she plans to retire later this year. Clerk and register of deeds Pattie Bender issued a media release Tuesday, indicating her plan to retire June 30. The 64-year-old Bender joined the county in 1970 and became clerk in 1991, succeeding Beverly Burnham. A lifelong Centreville resident, Bender said she looks …

Sturgis Hospital officials have announced new rules for visiting the hospital during the flu season. Influenza season guidelines are: Hospital visitors must be 18 years or older; visitors to the obstetric unit must be immediate family. Siblings under age 18 visiting a newborn may be screened for fever; one visitor per patient is allowed in the emergency department; and patients …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the third consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2015. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 17th year on the commission. This will be his seventh year overall as chairman. The nomination …

Sturgis Police are continuing their investigation into a robbery early Saturday morning at the Sturgis Petroleum Marathon Gas Station. A gunman, armed with a black handgun, entered the business – located at the corner of Fawn River and South Centerville Road – just after 4 a. m. Saturday. The suspect entered the store and demanded money from an employee. After …

Slushy roadways and speed were factors in a single-vehicle accident reported over the weekend in Florence Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department officials said a vehicle driven by 81-year-old Graydon Fox, of White Pigeon, was heading south around 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Lutz Road. Due to slush in the road, Fox lost control of his vehicle south of Stears Road. …