St Joseph County

Adopt-A-Highway program extended due to weather

The schedule for the annual Michigan Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program has been changed due to persistent snowbanks and late-season snowstorms. The ongoing pickup in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula will be extended through April 29. The section’s clean-up period started last weekend, though cold and rain prevented any group from taking part in the opening weekend. The …

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Three Rivers narrows search for superintendent

The field of candidates for Three Rivers Community Schools superintendent has been narrowed to two finalists. District officials announced last week that the two candidates interviewed Thursday will return for another round of questions later in the month. They are Jonathon Whan and Ron Moag. Moag is chief financial officer and human resources officer for Suttons Bay Public Schools, while …

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Sturgis Hospital prepares for changes

Sturgis Hospital has announced a number of impending changes following a series of measures adopted by its board members. According to hospital officials, the following moves are being implemented to help strengthen its financial position and prepare for the future: ■ Sturgis Hospital Board of Directors has told hospital administration to seek and evaluate potential partners whose assets can enhance and …

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Online voter registration bill moves to state House

State Rep. Aaron Miller, chair of the House Elections and Ethics Committee, said a plan approved by the committee last week would modernize Michigan’s voter-registration system by giving qualified voters the option to register online. Miller said requiring residents to fill out a paper form to register to vote is an antiquated process and is actually less secure than an …

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State police offers Citizens’ Academy

The Michigan State Police “Citizens’ Academy,” an eight-week program that gives citizens the opportunity to become familiar with the mission and operation of Michigan State Police, is beginning a new session next month. The program will teach participants to understand the procedures troopers follow, increase their awareness of law enforcement’s role in the community and get to know personnel at …

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I&M gets approval to raise rates

The Michigan Public Service Commission has authorized Indiana Michigan Power to adjust rates as part of I&M’s “Michigan Building the Future” plan. This is the first increase in Michigan base rates since 2012 for I&M, an American Electric Power company. For a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of energy per month, the increase will be less than $20 per …

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Colon Village council makes appointments

Colon’s interim village manager said plenty of work remains before he can comfortably say the municipality has been brought up to speed. Still, Tom Tenney said he is pecking away at several matters and making solid progress. Getting caught up on delinquent bills, he said, was a good place to start. Toward the conclusion of Colon’s March 13 meeting, its …

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Police search for armed man

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Camp Eberhart this week in response to a man with a firearm in the woods near the camp. Sheriff’s officials said deputies responded to the Fabius Township property shortly after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The man was described as an older white male, wearing a stocking cap, maroon Carhart jacket and blue …

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Three Rivers interviews superintendent candidates

Three Rivers Community Schools has interviewed two of the four candidates it has chosen as its prospective superintendent. Spencer Byrd and Jeff Rehlander met Tuesday with the board of education and fielded a number of questions. Byrd is currently superintendent of Meridian School District in Southern Illinois; Rehlander is superintendent of Gobles Public Schools. The other pair of candidates will …

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Crash causes service outage

A crash Monday in Fawn River Township led to a lengthy interruption of internet and other services in St. Joseph County. According to Michigan State Police, the crash occurred just before 6 p.m. on Fawn River Road near Big Hill Road. A tractor-trailer driven by John Smoll of Elida, Ohio, was hauling an excavator that was over the legally allowed …

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