County Information

Students in the welding program at Glen Oaks Community College are learning welding techniques on a new welding simulator thanks to the generosity of a $20,000 donation from Morgan Olson LLC. Through the use of the simulator, students virtually train with different types of welding on a computer screen before applying hands-on training in the school’s welding lab. Morgan Olson …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday to approve in-district tuition rates for all high school students, regardless of their residence. Glen Oaks president David Devier said the college has been approached by high schools outside its service area to offer dual-enrollment classes and the Early Middle College program. Those outlying areas include Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Branch and Elkhart …

A Niles man was injured after his car went off the road due to icy conditions last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s officials said 56-year-old Walter Langheinrich, of Niles, was driving on Leet Road, north of U.S. 12 at 9 p.m. Thursday, when his vehicle went out of control, struck a mailbox and rolled over. He was extricated from the …

Five people were arrested following the execution of a search warrant at a Sturgis residence. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said SCAN members last week went to the 500 block of Susan Avenue to apprehend Renee Garten for a narcotics-related warrant. SCAN unit members confirmed she and a number of other people were inside the residence. Garten, however, allegedly refused …

St. Joseph County United Way reached unprecedented heights in its 2018 fundraising campaign. During Tuesday’s “Victory Celebration” at Covered Bridge Farm County Park, the agency announced its annual campaign for the first time topped the million-dollar threshold. Co-chair of the 2018 campaign Mark Lillywhite said the final tally was $1,034,573. The total exceeded the goal of $911,000. United Way director …

St. Joseph County Planning Commission member Joe Woodin was appointed to the Southcentral Michigan Planning Council this week. The move was approved by the county commission during its meeting Tuesday. Woodin, a Marcellus-area resident, replaces Mendon resident Lon Huffman, who has stepped down from the post. Woodin’s appointment was endorsed Jan. 31 by the county planning commission. His term expires …

An agreement between St. Joseph County and MSU Extension was renewed by county commissioners Tuesday. The $126,000 contract will continue the services the county receives from MSU Extension. The allocation was budgeted and comes out of the county’s general fund. MSU Extension’s services include programs related to agriculture and agribusiness, 4-H, health and nutrition, and community and economic development.

The Michigan House this week approved State Rep. Aaron Miller’s bill protecting surviving spouses from penalties related to the state’s pension tax. Miller said the goal is to make sure a surviving spouse is not burdened with higher taxes when their older partner passes away. He said it’s the right thing to do so seniors aren’t saddled with higher and …

Colon’s municipal officials are reconsidering a plan to sell a piece of village-owned property on which a Dollar General would like to develop a store. During a village council special meeting Tuesday, nearly a dozen people urged the seven-member panel to table the matter and hold off on selling the parcel at 210 W. South St., referred to as “the …

The Schoolcraft Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect and vehicle in a larceny from a local business. Chief Bryan Campbell said the incident occurred at 12:10 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of East Lyon Street, where a white male, described as being in his mid-40s to early 50s, entered the business. There was …