County Information

The village of Colon is nearing a goal of $8,000 to purchase new Christmas decorations. A fundraising effort spearheaded by the village and the Colon Area Chamber of Commerce will result in the purchase of 29 new decorations, which will be put on display in the downtown area for about six weeks starting around Thanksgiving. Chamber and village council member …

Three new appointments to the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Board will likely be made before the end of the month. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week were advised that Jean Skalski of Three Rivers, Beverly Burnham of Centreville and Lillian Carter of Constantine have requested their appointments to the board not be renewed. …

A 12-year member of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education announced her resignation last week. LeeAnn McConnell, who did not elaborate on the reason for her resignation, was serving a term due to expire in November 2014. The board must fill McConnell’s spot within 30 days of her date of resignation. A district resident wishing to complete McConnell’s term …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioner have OK’d an out-of-state travel request by a Circuit Court employee. By unanimous vote Tuesday, commissioners approved Judge Paul Stutesman’s recommendation that Kathryn Griffin attend the National Association for Court Management’s annual conference in San Antonio. The six-night conference begins July 13 and Griffin is attending as president of the Michigan …

Two members of the White Pigeon Police De­partment received suspen­sions following a special meeting by the village council last week. The action was the result of investigation by the personnel committee. Chief Lynn Baker and Sgt. Bill Bur­goyne were sus­pended five days each following the board’s action Wednesday. The suspensions are separate from any punishment possibly yielded through the court …

Sturgis Police last week arrested a 66-year-old man on a warrant stemming from a May incident, when he allegedly put his hand up a teenager’s skirt. Department officials said Ira Lytle, 66, was arrested Thursday after an officer who knew of the warrant apprehended the Sturgis resident outside the police station. Two students at the nearby Sturgis Alternative School walking …

Former Three Rivers Mayor Ken Baker has been named the grand marshal of the 2013 Three Rivers Water Festival parade. Baker was chosen by virtue of his many years of service to the city, including his time as chief of police and later as mayor. Baker also is lauded for founding the Friends of Riverside Cemetery organization as well as …

A permit issued last week for the Three Rivers Mural Mall improvement project signals the end of construction related to the downtown attraction. The walk-through area between North Main and Railroad streets was redesigned to include picnic benches, plants, a play area and other items to create a visually appealing area. It also has a surveillance camera with a direct …

About 100 people attended a benefit magic show Saturday at Colon High School. More than $1,000 was raised to help Dan and Kathy Earl and their son, Casey. The Earls owned Curly’s bar and restaurant, which was destroyed by a fire in early March. The three-act, 90-minute magic show featured Rick Fisher, B.J. Mallon and John Sterlini, and music from …

Nine fire departments, including six from St. Joseph County, responded to a commercial blaze Wednesday in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The manufacturing section of Southern Michigan Rubber Co., located on M-60 near the St. Joseph County line, was destroyed by the afternoon blaze. Company officials indicated the fire appeared to have started near the rear of the building in a …