County Information

St. Joseph County Commission Chairman John Dobberteen said the county might consider employees work a four-day, ten-hour-a-day work week as an option. Dobberteen raised the idea earlier this month, when he said the option would be on the table since the county can’t always afford to increase compensation. The concept is in place at the sheriff’s department as well as …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a service agreement with Ann Arbor-based Merit Network Inc. During their Dec. 17 meeting, commissioners supported the service agreement that comes with the Internet line the county had previously approved and paid for. The service agreement covers a five-year period and will go into effect when the Internet line is installed …

The producer of the locally made film “The Current – Three Rivers” has announced three opportunities to see the feature-length presentation. It will be projected on a big screen at 7 p.m. Jan. 16, 17, and 18 at Riverside Church, 207 E. Michigan Ave. Presented in 12 diverse chapters, the movie was filmed in parts of 2012 and 2013, and …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff Department investigated a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this month in Colon Township. According to a department media release, a residence and pole barn in the 29000 block of Spring Creek Road were burglarized. The break-in occurred between 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 1 p.m. Dec. 20. The victim told police numerous power tools were taken.

A committee of members from the St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club is expected to decide whether to sell or keep a portion of a large piece of land it recently purchased. Jeff Brazo, club president, said the club acquired a 120-acre piece of land that includes a 40-acre parcel it had long sought. The committee will decide what …

The organizer of the fourth White Pigeon snowman-building event wishes to remind the public that judging is underway. With weather conditions conducive to well-packing snow, the event is in its second week, according to event coordinator Shireen Cline. Though she would prefer to see snowmen lined along the U.S. 12 corridor in White Pigeon and Mottville townships, Cline said she …

Sturgis city manager Mike Hughes said the municipality has been rated a “Five-Star Community” for the second consecutive year for its positive entrepreneurial climate. In addition to receiving the five-star designation, which is the highest ranking awarded, the city also received recognition as a 2013 “Best Practice Community.” The city is one of only eight communities in the state to …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has identified two bridges in St. Joseph County that will be replaced in the coming year. Spans over the Rocky River on Floating Bridge Road and Pulver Road, both in Flowerfield Township, will be dismantled and replaced in 2014. The tasks were made official when members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board recently …

Eric Jones, Mark Heydlauff and Tommy Hamilton were recently appointed to join the Sturgis Hospital Board of Directors and Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Jones joined the board Oct. 9 and will serve until May 2014. Since 1991, he has been president and owner of Michiana Corrugated Products Company. He is presently a member and vice-president of the Sturgis Hospital …

Members of the Fabius and Park townships fire boards have agreed to fund a second-shift staff member. The boards agreed earlier this month to man its station from 3 to 11 p.m. in hopes of reducing response times. The cost is expected to be shy of $40,000, but officials from both townships noted several money-saving steps undertaken by the fire …