County Information

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team seized firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana, illegally-obtained prescription drugs and meth-lab components in a search of a Porter Township residence last week. According to Cass County officials, Blayne Wolf, 47, and Barbara Balentine, 52, were arrested following the 6:30 p.m. raid Thursday in the 13000 block of Carter Lake Street, near the community of Union. Wolf …

The St. Joseph County United Way had a record-setting 2013 campaign, as its fundraising effort received more than $735,000. During its annual victory celebration Thursday in Three Rivers, representatives from the Centreville-based agency announced the figure, which is the most in the local United Way’s 15-year history. It also marked an increase of more than 8 percent from the $680,000 …

Three area agencies were successful in pulling a man from Pleasant Lake after he fell through ice Thursday morning. The Three Rivers Fire Department, Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department and the St. Joseph County Dive Rescue team were dispatched shortly before 8 a.m. to the Fabius Township location. Two lake residents used an extension ladder and rope to try saving the …

Officials from the St. Joseph County Grange Fair are set to announce the entertainment lineup for the 2013 event. Fair manager Bill Johnson said the announcement will be made public Saturday, which is about two months later than usual. The fair drew a winner last year, as country/western artist Alan Jackson played to a sold-out crowd of more than 5,000 …

State Rep. Matt Lori, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, has issued a statement regarding Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget presentation. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, said he is looking forward to examining Snyder’s budget proposal in detail. Lori said Snyder opened the door to discussion on how legislators spend taxpayers’ money, and it is Lori’s goal to make sure legislators …

Voters in the Three Rivers Community Schools district will be asked later this year to renew a non-homestead tax that generated more than $3.7 million last year. The 20-year-request will appear before voters in May, as the current non-homestead tax is expiring soon and renewal of what is currently more than 17.2 mills the district collects is essential to its …

St. Joseph County’s search for a new administrator may receive help from someone familiar with the position. J. Patrick Yoder, who served as the county’s first-ever administrator for four years starting in 1990, has sent a letter of interest to county board chairman John Dobberteen regarding the position that was vacated last month with the retirement of Judy West-Wing. West-Wing …

Superintendents from St. Joseph County’s nine school districts are being asked to consider the validity of a countywide school millage request. During a meeting involving school board members from across the county last week at Burr Oak High School, the question was revisited after being originally raised during a countywide meeting in October. While the amount potentially being sought has …

The St. Joseph County United Way will announce this afternoon the results of its 2013 fundraising campaign. Though it started last February, the 2013 drive kicked into high gear in August with the Donut Days giveaway in each of the county’s eight communities. The 2013 goal is $715,000, the most the Centreville-based agency has ever sought. A month ago, Kelly …

The St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Board had a long list of accomplishments in 2012, its first full year. Former board chairperson Lynda Molter presented the panel’s inaugural annual report to members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. Molter said a major accomplishment was the animal shelter getting rid of its gas chamber, a euthanasia chamber …