St Joseph County

A preliminary report from the October “Count Day” shows school enrollment is slightly up in the county overall, from 10,652 students in 2016 to 10,712 students. Three Rivers Community Schools had the biggest jump, up 87 students, from 2,623 in 2016 to 2,710 in 2017. Mendon Community Schools experienced the biggest dip in enrollment, down 42 students from 581 in …

Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members during a special meeting Wednesday accepted the resignation of superintendent Jean Logan. She advised the board last week that she expects to land a position in another district. A second order of business Wednesday saw the board hire Portage resident Rob Kuhlman to serve as interim superintendent. Kuhlman, 61, retired in June …

State Rep. Aaron Miller joined Rep. Lee Chatfield of Levering to introduce House Resolution 223, observing Jan. 16 as Religious Freedom Day in Michigan. Religious Freedom Day commemorates the anniversary of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, written by Thomas Jefferson. This statute ensured that never again would private citizens suffer at the hand of an abusive state church. Miller called Tuesday’s …

The village of Colon appears to be in the market for a new village office. During Tuesday’s village council meeting, the idea of replacing the current, 50-year-old double-wide structure was discussed. Talks were spurred by the fact the furnace at the current village office broke down two weeks ago and employees have worked there sporadically with the benefit of space …

A veteran member of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners was recognized by his peers this week. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, board chairman Dennis Allen presented Allen Balog with a plaque and accolades recognizing Balog’s two-year stint as board chairman. Allen said Balog, 61, was worthy of the recognition. The plaque issued to Balog read: “Presented to Allen …

State police investigators are looking into the discovery of a methamphetamine lab over the weekend in Mendon Township. According to a department media release, troopers were made aware of the lab Saturday afternoon after it was discovered by children playing in the area of Wakeman and River Run roads. The children took home what they thought was suspicious trash and …

With more widespread use of flashing green lights on state and local winter maintenance vehicles, motorists across Michigan can spot plow trucks more easily, even during whiteout conditions. In this second winter since the Michigan Legislature passed a bill allowing public maintenance vehicles to use flashing green lights in addition to the traditional flashing yellow, city public works departments, county …

Two St. Joseph County residents were arrested this week on drug-related offenses following the execution of a search warrant at a location in Sturgis. Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit responded Wednesday to a tip of suspected drug activity in the 200 block of West West Street. Investigators arrested a 46-year-old Sturgis man and a 43-year-old woman …

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering recently staged a news conference with her Calhoun County peer to promote a program called Step Forward Michigan. Ratering and Brian Wensauer were joined by Michigan State Housing Development Authority Director Earl Poleski to tout the benefits of the state program. Ratering said she knows in St. Joseph County, a lot of hard-working homeowners …

State Rep. Aaron Miller said Michigan will continue steady economic growth after the House and Senate Appropriations committees received the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference report, which is the first look at the upcoming economic forecast. The report was compiled by the House and Senate Fiscal agencies and the state budget director. It predicts that Michigan’s recovery from the so-called Lost …