County Information

Two candidates for different offices in St. Joseph County have announced their political plans. Sheriff Brad Balk, 58, filed his nominating petition Monday. Meanwhile, Sturgis attorney Rob Pattison, 46, has announced he will run for the office of St. Joseph County District Court judge. Balk, whose first four-year term as sheriff expires at the end of the year, said he …

The City of Three Rivers is warning Scidmore Park supporters about a website donation scam. There are links from Facebook pages to a website not created nor authorized by the city. The illicit website encourages people to send funds to any of three prospective recipients: the City of Three Rivers, Friends of Scidmore Park, or the Three Rivers Area Community …

For the first time since the middle of 2011, St. Joseph County’s monthly unemployment rate saw an increase from the previous month. The county’s December unemployment rate was 9.2 percent, a nine-tenths of a percent increase from November’s 8.3 percent. Data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis shows the 9.2 percent figure was still a …

Village officials in Colon have indicated there will not be a Winter Festival this year. After an inaugural winter celebration took place in 2010, the one-day, end-of-January festival did not return for a follow-up in 2011 due to lack of volunteers, according to village president Tom Whitford. The idea of trying it again for 2012 was mulled last fall, but …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety is cautioning residents to not leave keys in vehicles parked outside overnight, as the thefts of three vehicles were reported Friday. Between 4:30 and 8:30 a.m. Friday, vehicles left unlocked with keys in the ignition were stolen from outside residences in the 400 block of East South Street, the 400 block of Williams Street …

A 26-year-old Constantine woman was charged with a list of offenses following an incident at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday last week in the town of LaGrange, Ind. An officer responding to a call of a disturbance at a residence in the 500 block of East Michigan Street was allegedly struck in the face while trying to arrest Rachael Gieber, a Constantine …

A lifelong Park Township resident has accepted an offer to serve as St. Joseph County treasurer. Judie Ratering will serve the rest of 2012 as treasurer following a consensus reached early Thursday by a three-member panel. The 52-year-old Ratering will succeed Phyllis Bainbridge, who is retiring next week due to health issues. Ratering currently serves as a mortgage lender at …

Glen Oaks Community College has announced that nominations are being accepted for the E. J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence award. Current and former students, staff and community members are invited to nominate a full-time faculty member. This appointment is awarded on an annual basis to a faculty member at Glen Oaks Community College who exemplifies high professional standards, demonstrates …

The Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education this week approved the purchase of a new bus for the 2012-13 academic year. During action Monday, the district’s board of education approved borrowing enough money to purchase a 2013 model. The 77-seat bus will come with a price tag of almost $88,000, district officials said. The budgeted item was targeted when …

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority has announced it will stage a work session in mid February. The event takes place 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Three Rivers Area Chamber. According to an announcement about the meeting, its purpose is to discuss goals and long-term goals during its 2013 fiscal year.