St Joseph County

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 …

The company hoping to develop a solar farm in St. Joseph County has completed its analysis of the proposed project and is ready to move forward. Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy is eyeing between 150 and 200 acres in Mendon Township to develop what it is calling the White Pine Solar Project, a 20-megawatt project that company officials said will generate more …

Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members are preparing for the possible resignation of superintendent Jean Logan. The board staged a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the situation and the process of finding an interim superintendent. Logan, who is in her fifth year as Three Rivers superintendent, has not indicated where she is seeking employment. Board members, however, are …

Fire destroyed a garage and two vehicles earlier this week in Burr Oak. Firefighters were called around 3 p.m. Tuesday to a home in the 500 block of Burrwood Drive and were able to keep fire from entering the home. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, though authorities said the blaze does not appear to be …

A status conference and trial for Keith Lang, a former Sturgis teacher and coach, was adjourned Monday. A motion hearing is set for 9 a.m. Feb. 9. Lang was set to stand trial later this month on two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. In July 2017, a plea agreement between Lang and the St. Joseph County prosecutor was withdrawn in St. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the village of Marcellus will receive a grant in excess of $400,000 from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to improve its storm-water and wastewater capabilities. Miller said the DEQ provides money to local communities to assist in the planning, design and testing of storm-water and wastewater facilities. A local 10 percent match is …

The city of Sturgis is considering a plan to partner with St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department for development of a disc golf course. City manager Mike Hughes suggested that the city help fund material costs such as signage, tees and golf baskets for about $17,000. In turn, the county would construct, install, own and operate it. Hughes said …