City Commission

Sturgis municipal officials are expected to ask the public for input on whether to sell a piece of park land. Commissioners this week plan to consider ballot language authorizing the sale of Arthur Carls Park to Burr Oak Tool, Inc. The matter will be discussed at Wednesday’s city commission meeting. City manager Mike Hughes said Burr Oak Tool has indicated …

The city of Sturgis has issued a temporary traffic signal change for the intersection of West West Street and North Centerville Road. Beginning at 5 p.m. Monday, the traffic signal will be changed to flashing-red mode for West Street and flashing-yellow for Centerville. The change is being made as an evaluation period for a possible change to the traffic control …

Members of the Constantine Village Council voted to have the village participate in a 2014 St. Joseph County mutual-aid, police-assistance agreement. The agreement is a collaboration among the St. Joseph County Sheriff ‘ s Department and agencies from Sturgis, Burr Oak, Centreville, Colon, Constantine, Mendon, Three Rivers and White Pigeon. Village manager Mark Honeysett said neighboring communities have always lent …

A public hearing on parking violations in Constantine is on tap next month, following discussion at a recent Constantine Village Council meeting. Council members earlier this month discussed imposing stiff fines, including vehicle impoundment, for improper and overtime parking in the business district. The council set a public hearing for 7:05 p.m. July 21 regarding the issue. Village manager Mark …

Centreville’s village president could face charges after his son and son’s girlfriend were arrested earlier this month. Evidence from a six-week investigation indicates village president Jeff Johnson knew about warrants and drug involvement specific to his son, Jeffrey Charles Johnson, and his son’s girlfriend, Karissa Baltz. The couple was living in the village president’s home. Centreville Police Chief Luke Delcourt …

A former Sturgis Citizen of the Year and one-time city commission member has passed away. Jo Ellen Oster, 64, passed Tuesday following a bout with cancer. The 1998 Sturgis Citizen of the Year, Oster served at different times as a city commissioner, member of the Downtown Development Authority and the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce. Her late husband, John, is the …

Four properties will be sold to the Sturgis Neighborhood Program, as the measure was approved last week by the Sturgis City Commission. The properties are at 210 S. Maple; 400 E. West; 701 S. Orange; and 1502 Sunnyfield. Collectively, the sale of the four properties totals more than $72,000. Three of the properties were acquired by the city in 2013 …

White Pigeon village officials have agreed to spend about $2,600 to replace damaged and faded street signs. During Wednesday’s village council meeting, the seven-member panel heard president Dan Czajkowski explain that many of the village’s signs are difficult to read because of their age and years-long effects of the elements. He said it is a matter of safety that the …

An update on the 2014 White Pigeon Days community celebration was provided during Wednesday’s village council meeting. Representatives from the White Pigeon Days Committee said a permit for the parade on U.S. 12 has been secured and will take place on opening night, July 11. Other attractions include a dodge ball tournament, inflatable attractions for the kids, food and crafts …

White Pigeon village officials have deferred a matter regarding outdoor, wood-burning boilers until more information can be gathered by a council member and zoning official. A month after village council member Shireen Cline raised health-related concerns about the devices, the panel on Wednesday agreed to have Cline meet with Doug Kuhlman, zoning administrator for the village. The two will review …