County Information

Mendon Community Schools has become the third district in the county to raise its full-day pay for substitute teachers. Members of the district’s board of education Monday approved the full-day increase from $80 to $85. The move comes two weeks after Centreville Public Schools took an identical course of action, and more than a month after Three Rivers Community Schools …

The second of two candidates for the position of St. Joseph County human resources director is expected to confirm an interview date this week. County administrator Pat Yoder said the two finalists were chosen from a group of four people interviewed for the post. A total of 26 people applied for the job, which has been vacant since Elishia Arver …

Indiana Michigan Power has issued a media release to help its customers from falling victim to a phone scam. Electric-utility customers continue to be targeted by scammers who falsely represent themselves as company personnel in an attempt to collect money. In most cases, customers are contacted by phone and the caller threatens to cut off electric service if money is …

A 22-year-old man was arrested following a traffic-related incident Sunday. Sturgis police pulled over the driver of a Mustang near on Fawn River Road near South Centerville Road for an equipment violation. The driver of the Mustang attempted to switch into the passenger seat, and during the process, engaged the vehicle into reverse, according to police. The Mustang backed into …

Schoolcraft Middle School was on lockdown for about 90 minutes Monday after a student found a small-caliber bullet in the hallway. According to Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell, the department was alerted to the situation at 11:30 a.m. The school was then placed on administrative lockdown. A search of the building was conducted by school staff, and police personnel from …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Lockport Township in response to reports of malicious destruction of property incidents over the weekend. A sheriff’s department media release indicated deputies were called at 9 a.m. Saturday to the 16000 block of Woodland Drive, where someone used a pellet gun to shoot out the back windows of several vehicles.

Michigan’s House of Representatives last week approved legislation sponsored by State Rep. Matt Lori that makes boating safer on Michigan’s lakes and rivers. A pair of House bills calls for lowering the blood-alcohol content level for boaters from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, the same as operators of motor vehicles. Legislation in the package does the same for snowmobilers and …

A state grant to help refurbish rental apartments in the downtown district has been secured by the city of Three Rivers. Offered by the Michigan State Housing Authority, the $283,000 grant will be matched by nearly $90,000 from property owners. A total of six apartments will be created at three locations: 109 Portage Ave., 51 N. Main St. and 40 …

A 10-year-old boy was struck and killed early Sunday near the intersection of U.S. 131 and West Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. The boy, Trenton Holtslander, a 15-year-old sibling and their father were walking across U.S. 131 in the 100 block. The victim dropped something and as he went back to retrieve it, he was struck by a northbound van …

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by six-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 4.6 percent October unemployment rate was less than September’s 5.2 percent. October’s unemployment rate was 2.6 percent less than the same month one year earlier, …