St Joseph County

St. Joseph County commissioners last week approved Schaffer Consulting of Bethesda, Md., to review the financial and operating procedures of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. Commissioners agreed to include the county health department in the study. County administrator Pat Yoder said Schaffer is expected to do a follow-up performance and look at opportunities …

A Colon Township resident, whose plans to develop an operation that would house up to 90,000 chickens, has withdrawn his proposal. The two-barn project was proposed earlier this year by Jonathan Schrock and poised for a location on the north side of M-86, just west of Palomino RV – Division of Forest River Inc. Colon township and village officials, as …

Sturgis Public Schools has announced Nicole Airgood will fill the principal position at Eastwood Elementary, succeeding Bob Matkin, who is retiring. Airgood has been the principal at Wall School since 2009 and prior to that was principal for four years at White Pigeon’s Central Elementary.

A ceremonial ground breaking took place Tuesday for the South County Community Enrichment Center. County, municipal and commission on aging dignitaries gathered at the Sturgis site for a 20-minute program that included the ceremonial dirt-turning. Making comments to the crowd of about 30 people were Sturgis Mayor Ken Malone, Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus, St. Joseph County Commissioner Don …

The Michigan Main Street Center has awarded its first Design Assistance service to property owners in downtown Three Rivers. Mike and Nancy Russell, owners of Main Street Café, have plans to purchase and develop the units that previously housed Pub 21 as well as an adjacent site at 23 N. Main St. Depending on the individual needs of the property …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced a pair of upcoming opportunities to meet with him at locations in Cass County. Miller on June 30 will be at the Council on Aging in Dowagiac, from 11 a.m. to noon. Miller will then be at Zeke’s, also in Dowagiac, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., also on June 30. Miller said a big …

Three Rivers police are seeking community assistance to identify a suspect wanted for several cases of retail fraud. Police say the man is a black male in his late 40s. He is wanted in connection with several retail frauds in April and June. Thefts exceeded $ 1,000 in merchandise. Meanwhile, Michigan State Police are asking the public for help to …

Organizers of an annual run and walk in memory of a fallen White Pigeon soldier have released details about the 2015 event. The 1Lt. Jonathan Edds Memorial Classic 5K and 1K run and walk takes place July 11 as a part of White Pigeon Days. The sixth annual event is a fundraiser to support the Edds Foundation, which awards cash …

A Sturgis man was not injured in a two-vehicle accident that sent three people to the hospital last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s department deputies said Scott Yoder, 38, was attempting to turn left onto U.S. 12 from M-217 when he failed to yield the right of way to an eastbound car driven by Joanne Mead, 57, of Edwardsburg. Mead …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week praised Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding for classrooms and continues to build a solid public-safety foundation. Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the 2015-2016 budget pays down debt while prioritizing spending for transportation, education and law enforcement. Miller said the budget, after …