St Joseph County

Seventeen St. Joseph County employees were recognized Tuesday for reaching milestone years of service. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners acknowledged employees who had reached the 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-year plateau. The 25-year category featured three recipients: Det.-Sgt. Jim Hart, patrol officer Pete VanCamp and IT director Dan Wing. The group of 20-year employees consisted of Mike Minger, …

Immaculate Conception School and nearby Three Rivers Health were briefly in lock-down mode Tuesday morning in response to a citizen’s claim of gunshots heard in the vicinity. Law-enforcement officials responded around 7:50 a.m. to an area in the 1100 block of Hill Street after a citizen reported hearing gunfire. A search of the perimeter was conducted but officials later concluded …

About 150 adults participated in “Take Your Parent to Lunch” day at Mendon Elementary School Wednesday. The idea was proposed by Darci Kirby, food service director for the district. She said the concept was a way to recognize National Food Service Week and also a way of promoting an event that would bring parents into the school for a rare …

Concerns about the potential demise of the St. Joseph County Conservation District were raised during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. In light of Monday’s 2014 budget work session, during which commissioners proposed not funding the conservation district, John Nelson addressed the five-member commission. Nelson, vice-chair of the Conservation District Board, questioned why the district is also possibly …

Animal Rescue Fund’s Feral Control Project is sponsoring a “Cans for Cats” event during the month of November. ARF officials are asking the public to collect returnable cans and bottles from work, school and home and donate them to the agency. The feral control project helps to sterilize free-roaming cats in an effort to reduce the cat population in St. …

A summer-long project in the village of Centreville finished last week. Thanks to a state grant of more than $400,000 awarded last fall, the installation of sidewalks along the village’s busiest streets leading to Centreville Elementary and Centreville Jr./Sr. High schools has been completed. The $416,000 Michigan Department of Transportation grant was one of six issued to Michigan communities as …

Sunny skies helped draw more than 2,000 people to Meyer Broadway Park as part of Sunday’s Three Rivers Area Fall Color Tour. The county-owned park was one of 13 locations on the 2013 tour, a self-guided event offering attractions, activities, food and fall-related fun. Christy Trammell, executive director of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, said many of the …

A gasoline-powered pole saw, chainsaw, air-powered nail guns and other tools were stolen recently from a residence in Mottville Township. State police investigators were called to the 12000 block of U.S. 12 to look into the matter. The time and date of the incident, and details regarding how access was gained into the residence was not stated in a department …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton was fined $200 on a charge of disturbing the peace, related to a July incident at the Sturgis Applebee’s. The charge was reduced from what could have been possession of a firearm while intoxicated, as Eaton was found to have had a blood-alcohol level in excess of 0.08 percent while he was in possession …

The first showing of “The Current – Three Rivers,” took place Friday for a by-invitation-only audience, including many who played a role in the movie. The full-length feature film received positive reviews. Financed by local businessman Tom Meyer and produced by longtime resident Jerry Wright, “The Current – Three Rivers,” showcases many aspects of the city, its people and businesses. …