County Information

Kadant Johnson is asking potential participants in the second annual Hoops for Hope – a 3-on-3 corporate basketball tournament – to start forming and register their teams. The fundraiser, to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Three Rivers, will take place at 9 a.m. March 24 in the Three Rivers High School gymnasium. Event organizers said 100 …

A full-service grocery store in business for more than 30 years in Sturgis announced Wednesday it is closing by the end of the month. Officials from Miller’s Super-Valu said competition from Wal-Mart and other stores and markets in town is too significant to overcome. Mike Doust, general manager of LaGrange, Ind.-based Miller’s, said the Sturgis location simply couldn’t generate enough …

State Rep. Matt Lori said he has filed paperwork to make official his candidacy for re-election this fall. Lori, 55, is starting the final year of his second two-year term. By law, he can serve in the position for a total of three, two-year terms. The Constantine-area resident and former sheriff of St. Joseph County said he has enjoyed serving …

The first day of ticket sales for Alan Jackson’s appearance this fall at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair was overwhelming, fair manager Bill Johnson said. Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday and a line of more than 250 people was in place outside the fairgrounds ticket window. At the head of the line was a group that …

A memorial marker commemorating the spot where Calista Springer died in a house fire was decorated Monday by people remembering the four-year anniversary of the Centreville girl’s death. The 16-year-old Springer suffered smoke inhalation and was burned while chained to her bed when a faulty vacuum sweeper started the fire. Balloons, flowers and stuffed animals were left at the marker …

Rick Santorum was the top vote-getter in St. Joseph County Tuesday. The presidential primary election in Michigan, however, was claimed by Mitt Romney, who came in second place in St. Joseph County. Unofficial results from County Clerk Pattie Bender’s office show Santorum earned more than 2,500 votes while Romney had more than 1,700. Barrack Obama, the only candidate listed on …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week made appointments to a pair of boards. Three Rivers-area resident Connie Stoppenbach was appointed to fill a term on the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority Board. Her term will expire in April 2013. Meanwhile, reappointments of Sturgis-area resident Betty Massey and commissioners Don Eaton, John Dobberteen and Robin Baker were made to …

The 27th Walk for Warmth, which took place Saturday at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds, raised more than $6,100. The funds will be used to assist people who are elderly, disabled or of low income. Though event organizers were hoping to raise $12,000, they said the amount raised and enthusiasm from the more than a dozen people who participated was …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners on Tuesday accepted the resignation of a longtime employee in the prosecutor’s office. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jeanette Jackson plans to retire March 30, capping a 31-year career. Prosecutor John McDonough sought and was given approval to fill Jackson’s position. McDonough indicated he plans to appoint Joshua Robare, who is expected to join the office …

A man’s body was found in the rubble of a barn fire early Monday in Fabius Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, a bicycle was discovered near the scene of the fire, which took place near the intersection of Millard and Roberts roads. Though the matter remains under investigation, officials indicated they believe the mountain bike likely …