County Information

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and city commission members have OK’d a plan to offer early retirement to municipal employees who qualify for the option. During Tuesday’s meeting, finance director Cathy Lawson noted that as many as six of the city’s 57 full-time employees would qualify for the early-retirement incentive. If accepted, a recipient would receive a one-time payout of …

  Members of the Three Rivers City Commission earlier this week rejected a plan to act as the municipality’s zoning board of appeals in matters related to so-called Big Box retail developments. Following an informal consensus Tuesday, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners decided to field such matters. The issue was raised in light of concerns that the city’s ZBA has …

Sturgis police joined members of the Southwest Enforcement Team in uncovering hazardous waste from several methamphetamine laboratories Tuesday night at a residence in Sturgis. Sturgis police said a search warrant was executed for a 207 S. Maple St., a residence raided for drug-related activity in 2008, police said. The residence was vacant when it was entered Tuesday. A specially trained …

St. Joseph County’s Solid Waste Committee is offering its annual household hazardous waste collection and recycling of electronics, tires and paper later this month. The event will take place 8 a.m. to noon April 21 at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds and is free to St. Joseph County residents. Materials accepted include pool and garden chemicals, cleaners, old gas, batteries, …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission agreed Tuesday to gather more input from municipal staff and its legal advisor before taking action relevant to an ongoing issue with the Three Rivers Public Library Board. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s commission meeting, Commissioner Daryl Griffith said he remains open to the idea of removing library board …

  Any Three Rivers resident interested in serving on the city commission has through April 13 to submit a citizen-interest form. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Ken Baker, who stated in his letter of resignation that his ongoing battle against cancer prevents him from remaining on the commission. Forms are available at city hall …

Three Rivers officials said beginning Thursday, River Road will be closed to through traffic for at least a six-week period for infrastructure work. City crews plan to work on the remainder of the water main under River Road to be replaced and extended to serve properties at the east end of the city. The detour will be from 9th Street …

The Three Rivers Fire Department has announced that seasonal testing of the city’s weather sirens will begin at 12:05 p.m. Saturday. Chief Dan Tomlinson said the sirens will be tested the first Saturday of the month, through October. He said sirens will not be tested if severe weather is in the forecast.

A hit-and-run incident in Three Rivers remains under investigation by the Three Rivers Police Department. According to a department news release, a newer model Jeep Wrangler went off the roadway Saturday at Portage Avenue and Prutzman Street, and subsequently struck a light pole and a sign. Public utilities attached to the pole were significantly damaged, according to the release. Police …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police post in White Pigeon are looking into the weekend theft of firearms, knives and ammunition from a White Pigeon bait shop. Owners of Fisher’s Bait and Tackle said someone broke into the U.S. 12 business sometime early Saturday. It appears entrance was gained through a rear window. Seven firearms were among the items stolen, …