County Information

Annette Smitley has been named the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District employee of the year. An educational consultant, Smitley plays a key role in professional development for new teachers as well as mentor training. Other nominees for the award were school nurse Kim Robertson, speech therapist Lynelle Garvey, assistant instructor Karrie Frederick and office assistant Mandy Dodson.

Constantine village and township plan to reimburse more than $200,000 owed to a former manufacturing plant following a reassessment of its property taxes. Village officials this week were told Rexam Closure Systems appealed its 2011 tax assessment. The assessment was $11.2 million but reduced to $4.5 million following its appeal. As a result, the village and township owe a total …

A potluck dinner last weekend was staged to honor Colon’s 2013 Citizens of the Year, Linda Musall and Frank Fisher. The two longtime area residents received plaques and were saluted by many of the 70-plus people in attendance. The pair also served as grand marshals during the village’s Fourth of July parade. Though the village typically has just one Citizen …

Rob Kuhlman is one of four finalists for the position of superintendent of Paw Paw Community Schools. Currently superintendent of Mendon Community Schools and Centreville Public Schools, the 57-year-old Kuhlman was the first of the four finalists to be interviewed, as he met with district officials Wednesday evening. An interview with another candidate followed, and the other two finalists will …

Student Count Day in Michigan took place earlier this month, and figures from St. Joseph County show only one of its nine districts realized a student increase from last year’s October count. Colon Community Schools grew from 638 students to 640 between the October 2012 count and this year’s count, conducted Oct. 2. Proportionate to size, the biggest decreases were …

State Rep. Matt Lori on Tuesday voted for legislation that offers sales-tax relief for Michigan residents who buy new and used vehicles and watercraft. The House and Senate approved bills that eliminate buyers having to pay sales tax on the full price of a car, watercraft or recreational vehicle purchase without subtracting the value of trade-ins. Michigan is one of …

Several vehicles in White Pigeon Township were broken into during the early morning hours Oct. 9. State police investigators said the vehicles were parked in the 68000 block of Klinger Lake Road. Access was gained into unlocked vehicles, and a variety of valuables were subsequently taken. A homeowner reported seeing a black car in the area during the time of …

The Substance Abuse Task Force of St. Joseph County is hosting a Frontline Luncheon on prescription drug abuse in St. Joseph County from noon to 1 Oct. 30 in the Dresser Business Auditorium of Glen Oaks Community College. Dr. John Robertson, of Sturgis Health and Wellness, and a representative from the Michigan State Police, will be presenting at the event. …

Three Rivers Police Chief Tom Bringman said a savvy Lockport Township resident reported a potential phone scam this week. The resident was suspicious of the ploy and wished to report the incident to prevent people from falling for the scheme. Bringman said the resident received a call from someone who indicated a new Medicare card was soon to be issued, …

A 2014 allocation for the St. Joseph County Conservation District appears to be secured, as agency supporters successfully pleaded their case to county officials Monday. The district was at risk of losing its annual $14,000 allowance after county commission members last week unveiled St. Joseph County’s proposed 2014 fiscal year budget. Monday’s appeal included nearly an hour of discussion centering …