County Information

Saturday’s cleanup of a five-mile stretch of the Portage River drew a small but productive group of volunteers. The first of seven river and river bank cleanups scheduled this season by the St. Joseph County Conservation District drew seven participants. Collectively, the group recovered eight tires, an assortment of cans and bottles, and other forms of debris from the river …

St. Joseph County Animal Control Officer Tom Miller said the last of five threatening pit bulls, thought to have been abandoned late last month at Meyer Broadway Park, has been killed. Miller said the dog was found living in the area around Westside Landfill. It had avoided a number of traps and, as a result, was shot by a deputy …

A pair of St. Joseph County commissioners has asked Sturgis municipal officials to weigh in on the concept of a Commission on Aging facility in Sturgis. Commissioners John Dobberteen and Don Eaton approached city leaders this week and asked for input into the proposed concept. The COA has a fund balance of about $1.4 million and the county commissioners have …

Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell issued a media release Thursday, detailing an incident involving a motorcyclist involved in a crash after traveling in excess of 100 miles an hour. Campbell said a 47-year-old Vicksburg man was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail following Wednesday night’s pursuit involving area police agencies. The driver was stopped after 11 p.m. for erratic driving. During …

A crowd of about 175 people gathered Thursday night in Sturgis to hear Battle Creek resident Loreen Niewenhuis discuss the adventures of her 1,019-mile walk around Lake Michigan. Sponsored by the seven libraries in St. Joseph County, the hour-long presentation by Niewenhuis was the culmination of the 2012 “One Book, One County” program. Her presentation at the Sturges-Young Auditorium included …

Glen Oaks Community College has announced the appointment of two new professors. Michelle McNamara, who previously served as an instructor of oral communications, and Sheryl Smithson were hired as professors at the Centreville-area school. McNamara will continue to teach oral communications, while Smithson will serve as professor of microbiology. In addition, a trio of faculty members received tenure after completing …

The village of Centreville is looking for a new president to lead its village council. Barb Parker, a council member for 15 years – including the last seven as president – announced her resignation Monday. Parker said she was not planning to seek re-election later this year, but decided to resign for family and other reasons. Parker said she would …

Members of the Colon Downtown Development Authority are interested in learning more about a proposed Magic Walk of Fame. The proposed concept, which would be modeled after the star-studded sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard, is being explored by Rick Fisher DDA chairman and magician who owns FAB Magic in downtown Colon. Fisher raised the idea at last month’s DDA meeting and …

Organizers of next month’s Three Rivers Water Festival parade wish to remind that the deadline for parade entrants is Friday. The parade’s theme is “Ahoy, TR,” with an emphasis on pirates, lakes and boating, event organizers said. Applications for prospective participants may be picked up at the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce. No late or day-of entries will be …

A 29-year-old Three Rivers woman was cited for speeding and driving with an expired license, following a single-vehicle accident at 2 a.m. Wednesday in Fabius Township. A media release from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department stated Jennifer Holmes drove off the roadway near Coon Hollow Road and Lakeshore Drive. Her vehicle struck a mailbox as the car left the …