St Joseph County

Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes said the city’s ability to seek bids early for this summer’s major reconstruction of East West Street may be largely responsible for saving 23 percent on the project’s cost. The street was initially constructed in 1922 and its current condition made it a priority for reconstructing 2,600 feet of street surface and replacing more than …

The village of Constantine has reached an agreement with Rexam for a refund of 87 1/2 percent of a tax abatement the company owes the village. The village agreed to a 12 1/2 percent reduction, including a waiver of any penalties and interest, dropping the amount it is owed from $280,000 to a little more than $252,000. Abatements were granted …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees has agreed to a contract with Follett Higher Education Group Inc. to privatize bookstore services. James O’Connor, vice president of sales and operations, said Follett operates 945 campus stores internationally, has 1,500 e-commerce sites and plans to invest more than $ 250 million in the business over the next 36 months. Follett offers …

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded this week to a collision between a passenger vehicle and a plow truck. The incident occurred at 12:12 a.m. Thursday on U.S. 12, just east of Cassopolis Road in Mason Township. Deputies said an eastbound car driven by 39-year-old Erek Szymanski, of Mishawaka, crossed the centerline after the driver fell asleep. His vehicle struck a …

Michigan Milk Producers Association has closed on the purchase of two houses in the 400 block of East Second Street in Constantine, village officials were informed this week. The council discussed abandoning the 400 block of East Second Street to facilitate use by MMPA and a public hearing was subsequently set for 7 p.m. March 16. Meanwhile, Trustee Cathy Piper …

A gathering of municipal and county leaders concluded that St. Joseph County’s economic growth is being hampered by a lack of workers willing to take on entry-level manufacturing. The four leaders were a part of Tuesday’s State of the Area event, sponsored by the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce. The forum featured St. Joseph County Administrator Pat Yoder, Three …

An amended contract between St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners and the county’s E-911 Telecommunicators’ Association was approved Tuesday by commissioners. According to terms of the amendment, new hires will be required to undergo telecommunications training and be paid $12.88 an hour during training; upon completion of training, full-time employees will be placed on the current wage scale; and benefits …

The St. Joseph County-based River Country Tourism Council has unveiled a new logo that helps identify the region designated River Country. Rose Szwed, marketing manager for River Country Tourism Council, said the logo was inspired largely by confusion on the exact area covered in describing River Country. Outside of St. Joseph County, for example, there is a River Country in …

The federal government and local partners are contributing $13.6 million into an initiative to boost water quality in the St. Joseph River Watershed, which covers 210 miles in Michigan and Indiana. U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, on Monday announced details of the project, which includes $6.8 million public investment that is …

Approval of a sheriff’s department personnel change was the most noteworthy matter of business during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. In advance of Capt. Tim Schuler’s impending retirement, commissioners OK’d the department’s request to fill his position. Subsequently, the commission agreed to hire Kitty Buchner to succeed Schuler. Buchner, who has served as administrative secretary and is …