County Information

Glen Oaks Community College officials have announced three new associate degree programs in visual arts beginning in the fall. The associate of arts in visual arts degree has emphasis in three areas: graphic design, fine art and commercial photography. Developing the trio of new programs was a two-year process that involved evaluating the market for visual arts, the school’s ability …

A wallet was stolen from a vehicle parked behind a business in White Pigeon, according to state police officials. An employee at Mancino’s said his vehicle was damaged and the wallet stolen from inside the vehicle between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Two area high school boys basketball players received state accolades for their performance on the hardwood. Sturgis junior Chance Stewart, who has already verbally committed to a football scholarship at the University of Wisconsin, was named to the Associated Press Class B, all-state honorable mention team. Stewart averaged 18.5 points a game in leading the Trojans to a 14-9 season …

A White Pigeon man will spend at least two years in prison for his role in setting fire to a residence in White Pigeon Township last year. Terry Streib, 74, was sentenced earlier this month by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman for setting fire last July to a house on Aldrich Lake Road. During court proceedings, Streib indicated he started …

Latex paint has been added to the list of materials accepted at a hazardous waste collection in Centreville next month, for a fee of a $1.00 per can. The St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee-sponsored event April 20 will accept, for the first time, latex paint. Other hard-to-dispose-of items accepted during the collection include televisions, computer products, old tires, expired …

Staff and administrators at the St. Joseph County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will take 23 collective furlough days to help improve the agency’s financial standing. During Tuesday’s monthly CMHSAS Board meeting, executive director Liz O’Dell said management will be taking seven unpaid days off, while staff members will take a total of six. O’Dell will take 10 …

Indiana Michigan Power has announced it will conduct aerial inspections of its high-voltage lines next month as part of its ongoing program to maintain the reliability of the electric-transmission system. Officials from the Fort Wayne-based utility said the helicopter flights will inspect transmission lines in and around Fort Wayne and South Bend, as well as in areas within Ohio and …

Representatives from the Three Rivers Food Pantry are issuing a public appeal for monetary donations now through the end of April. While there is always a need for help, the pantry is promoting an opportunity through which it will receive 10 percent credit in its account for all monetary donations made through April 30. The offer is available from the …

A Constantine eatery is a two-time winner of an annual chili cook-off. Rachel’s, which won the inaugural event in 2010, was voted by the public as the best chili between a competition that also featured Constantine-based restaurants Town Fryer and Piper’s Grinders Galore. The fourth annual Chili Throw-Down took place Saturday. Rachel’s won the inaugural even in 2010, followed by …

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased for the second consecutive month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 8.3 percent January unemployment rate was seven-tenths percent of an increase from December. Still, the January 2013 rate was 1.8 percent less than the same month one year earlier. The …