General Information – do not use

Judge rules three CMHSAS board members reinstated to panel

A Jackson County judge declared Tuesday that the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners did not follow proper procedure when voting last week to remove three people from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board of St. Joseph County. As a result, Gaylene Adams, Larry Walton and board president Barb Parker were reinstated to the 12-member panel …

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Michigan confirms 1st case of chronic wasting in wild deer

Wildlife officials on Tuesday confirmed Michigan’s first case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced a white-tailed female deer in Ingham County’s Meridian Township tested positive for the contagious and fatal disease that attacks the brains of infected deer and elk. Officials say they will require mandatory testing of deer killed in …

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Detours in Sturgis during reconstruction

Reconstruction of East West Street, from North Nottawa Street to North Lakeview Avenue, was slated to begin Monday in Sturgis. There will be no through traffic allowed during the construction phase. Detour signs will be posted. In addition, street lights will be removed for the reconstruction. Overhead lights are being installed during construction as a temporary measure and the decorative …

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Two arrested on drug charges following traffic stop

A White Pigeon man was arrested last month in LaGrange County, Ind., on several drug charges, including possession of cocaine. Jose Rubio, 21, was jailed along with Rafael L. Luna, 29, of LaGrange, following a traffic stop near Howe. County deputies said the vehicle in which Rubio and Luna were riding was stopped for an equipment violation A search of …

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Special enrollment period added for health insurance

Anyone who did not enroll in a health insurance plan during the Marketplace open-enrollment period may have a reprieve. The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have added a special enrollment period for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and may be required to pay the shared responsibility …

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Mendon senior plans to play at CMU

A Mendon High School senior has made a commitment to continue his football career by signing a letter of intent to play at Central Michigan University. Logan Slaughter, a four-year starter for the Hornets, is the second player under Coach John Schwartz to play for a Division I school. Slaughter plans to major in psychology and has expressed an interest …

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County seeks clerk applicants

St. Joseph County is seeking applicants for the position of county clerk. Pattie Bender, current clerk, will retire June 30 and Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman will appoint her successor. Any interested applicant can submit a resume to Circuit Court, Box 189, Centreville, or electronically to: griffink@stjosephcountymi.org. The deadline for applications is Feb. 12. Following that deadline, interviews will be …

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Several matters before Board of Commissioners in 2015

Implementation of a river trail network, establishment of a municipal revolving-fund loan and development of plans regarding a new animal shelter are some of the matters the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is expected to handle in 2015. John Dobberteen, chair of the five-man board, said the commission has a big year ahead of itself. A master plan regarding …

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Two area parks offer New Year’s Day hikes

Two area state parks will be a part of a free, New Year’s Day event sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The agency will sponsor free, guided hikes in Michigan state parks on New Year’s Day – plus additional hikes throughout the week – as part of America’s state parks “First Day Hikes” initiative. According to the Michigan …

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Sturgis bucket challenge hopes to raise money for United Way

The City of Sturgis Electric Department is challenging the Sturgis Fire Department to see which can raise the most money for the St. Joseph County United Way. The bucket challenge starts at 9 a.m. Friday. According to St. Joseph County United Way Director Kelly Hostetler, individuals are signed up to be in the bucket trucks high over the fire department …

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