County Information

Ann Happel, a Title One teacher at Eastwood Elementary School in Sturgis has been named the recipient of the 2011 John Oster Award. The award was established in 1981 by JoEllen Oster as a tribute to her late husband and recognizes teacher excellence at Sturgis Public Schools. Happel was honored for her devoted effort to develop and implement a number …

A plan to implement in-house dental service at the St. Joseph County Jail moved a step closer to reality with the donation of $2,000 from a Fulton-area family. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said the donation, made in memory of Bob Shook, a former jail chaplain, allowed the department to purchase almost all the equipment it needs to begin tooth-extraction service. The …

Five people were arrested on methamphetamine-related charges Wednesday following surveillance of a residence in White Pigeon Township. Members of the Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team and its Emergency Support Team made five early morning arrests after the group had allegedly produced meth during the night. An informant told police a sniper was guarding the house while meth was being …

A 360-acre property in Leonidas Township has been purchased by an Indiana-based farmers consortium. The $2.4 million purchase of the property along Longnecker Road effectively ends the prospect of a 2,300-head dairy farm previously proposed for the site. Perry Vieth, president of Ceres Partners of South Bend, said the company plans to use the land for seed corn and rotate …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department officials arrested two Porter Township residents and took a child into protective custody after discovering evidence of a meth lab inside their residence Tuesday. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the 69000 block of Union Road and found evidence of a one-pot meth lab and materials used to manufacture meth. Multiple …

Labor agreements with four units of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees working for St. Joseph County were reached Tuesday. St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners OK’d the agreements with Circuit Court, Probate Court, General Unit and Family Division of the Circuit Court. The one-year agreements affect 64 employees and do not provide wage increases. Also Tuesday, …

The candidate chosen to serve as St. Joseph County treasurer has indicated he will decline the position in light of a controversy over his proposed salary. Centreville native Barry Miller said he will retain his job as vice president for Century Bank and Trust in Three Rivers after county officials had a disagreement over his starting salary. According to minutes …

Constantine village officials were told Monday that an Indiana-based company is expecting to close soon on the purchase of the former Rexam plant in the village’s industrial park. During a public hearing at Monday’s village council meeting, officials from Nature’s Fuel said a few legal matters are being reviewed by their legal team. Glenn Johnson, chief operating officer, said the …

Sturgis Police report its officers arrested an 18-year-old Sturgis man early Tuesday on charges of disorderly conduct and minor in possession of an intoxicant. A department press release states the unnamed suspect was spotted in the 500 block of Susan Street following a citizen’s tip about a possible burglary in progress. After police arrived, the suspect walked toward the back …

The neighbor of a Three Rivers woman helped police take into custody a trio of men who broke into a house in the 600 block of West Street last week. Three Rivers police said the residence of a 92-year-old woman was entered by the suspects Thursday. She was not home at the time, but a neighbor who noticed the activity …