County Information

Four manufacturing companies based in St. Joseph County are among the recipients of $235,000 in training grants. The Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Michigan Works announced this week that the Skilled Trades Training grants, funded by Michigan’s Workforce Development Agency, will assist with training for in-demand jobs. The St. Joseph County companies receiving grant money are Vaupell Midwest Molding and Tooling of Constantine; …

The seven-member Colon Village Council took a tour of the rebuilt Curly’s bar and restaurant following its meeting Tuesday. Though the eatery is a month from reopening following a March fire that destroyed the original Curly’s, the replacement is taking shape nicely, owners Dan and Kathy Earl said. Many of the kitchen appliances are in place, flooring has been installed, …

Applications for the 2014 Sturgis Area Community Foundation scholarship program are now being accepted. Seniors at Sturgis High School are eligible for consideration and may pick up an application at the guidance office. Scholarships opportunities are also available to seniors attending school in Centreville, Mendon, Colon, Constantine, White Pigeon and Burr Oak. Applications may be obtained online at sturgisfoundation.org. Applications …

State Rep. Matt Lori said he applauds Gov. Rick Snyder for continuing his emphasis on access to mental health services and improving the methods by which people who need attention may receive that treatment. In response to Snyder’s State of the State address Thursday, Lori said the Legislature has improved the state’s mental-health model during the past three years, and …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to keep its meetings at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The matter was resolved during Tuesday’s meeting. The exceptions to the 2014 schedule are the first meetings in August and November, which will be moved one day earlier to not conflict with primary and general elections. On …

Slick roads may have been a factor in a Wednesday morning, two-vehicle crash in Lockport Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Hollie Chaffee, 36, of Three Rivers, was northbound on Lutz Road when she lost control of her vehicle near the intersection of M-86. Her vehicle was struck by a southbound automobile driven by Michael Marker, 49, of …

Two Sturgis residents were served felony warrants Tuesday on charges of breaking and entering, and felony burglary. The Sturgis Police Department said Timothy Pelfry, 32, and Kendra Rustad-Hojara, 21, were taken to the St. Joseph County Jail following their alleged involvement in a Dec. 26 incident at an apartment in the 700 block of Gateway Court. A tip to police …

A multi-family residence was destroyed by a fire last weekend in Sturgis. The blaze started around 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of West Congress Street, according to Sturgis Fire officials. The occupants evacuated safely but the extent of damage was too great and has left the structure uninhabitable. The Sturgis Fire Department received aid from three additional agencies, …

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said he will take over as chief of police later this year. Members of the Constantine Village Council agreed to the arrangement Monday, as current chief Jim Bedell is retiring in May. Honeysett, 58, said he will work under a two-year contract as chief while continuing to serve as village manager. His salary will be …

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 …