County Information

The November 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 7.2 percent November unemployment rate was more than October’s 7.8 percent. November’s unemployment figure was 1.3 percent less than the same month a year …

Approximately 100 people gathered in downtown Three Rivers Sunday to participate in a flash mob-style video shoot, led by the city’s Downtown Development Authority. DDA director Christy Trammell said the authority has applied to participate in the Select Level of the Michigan Main Street Program. Adhering to the theme, “T.R. is All in this Together,” representatives from various organizations, Three …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the second consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2014. The meeting had been postponed one week due to inclement weather Jan. 7. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 16th year on …

A residence in the city of Sturgis was burglarized Sunday. According to Sturgis Police, the owner of a house in the 1100 block of Greenlawn Street reported the back door to the residence was forced open. The residence was ransacked, and two cameras, jewelry and a large sum of money were stolen. Police said they were told the incident likely …

An undetermined amount of old coins was taken during the burglary of a business over the weekend in downtown Schoolcraft. Police Chief Bryan Campbell said officers responded to an alarm in the 200 block of North Grand Street at 3:47 am Saturday. Officers found that someone had gained entry into Norma’s Antiques. The suspect fled the building moments before police …

A Sturgis-area native will be honored by Sturgis Exchange Club when it conducts its 71st annual Book of Golden Deeds award ceremony Thursday at Sturges-Young Auditorium. Elsa Thomasma, 23, was selected for the award in recognition of her volunteer efforts in raising funds and building what is known as “Project Ark” in Cangumbang, Philippines. The community center was used as …

A citizen’s tip led to the arrest of three people on drug-related charges Thursday in Three Rivers. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant for methamphetamine production in the 400 block of 4th Avenue. SCAN members discovered evidence of methamphetamine production and use. Arrested were a 63-year-old man, a 53-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman. They …

A Mendon man suffered minor injuries after he was involved in a one-vehicle accident Wednesday morning on M-60 in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Richard Hartzell, 73, was driving east on the state road when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy patch of roadway and his vehicle rolled into a ditch. The incident …

A dozen people attended a public forum Wednesday in Mendon to hear more about the school district’s millage-increase request. Superintendent Rob Kuhlman and Michael Galovan, project manager from engineer/architect firm TowerPinkster, went over a detailed explanation of what’s at stake in the $9.3 million request. They said nearly three-quarters of the request will go toward building renovations and technology upgrades. …

Mary Kay Schultz has been named 2013 Exchangite of the Year by the Sturgis Exchange Club. Schultz, human resources director at Sturgis Hospital, was recognized during a ceremony last week at the Sturges-Young Auditorium. A number of club members praised Schultz for her unfailing participation in Exchange Club-sponsored events. Schultz is a former “Person of the Year” as awarded by …