Government

A matter related to citizen comments at St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meetings was at the center of a reaction expressed by commissioner Dan Czajkowski earlier this month. Constantine resident Rebecca Shank has persistently asked commissioners to restore the “citizen comment” option toward the end of the board’s twice-a-month meetings. The second opportunity was removed from the board’s meeting …

Twelve people have been reappointed to the St. Joseph County Community Corrections Advisory Board. During their Jan. 16 meeting, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved one-year terms for judges Jeff Middleton, David Tomlinson, Rob Pattison and Paul Stutesman; Anthony Callaway, representing Day Reporting Center; prosecutor John McDonough; Lisa Martin, from the Michigan Department of Corrections; district …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners earlier this month fulfilled their annual financial commitment to a pair of dependent agencies. During the board’s Jan. 16 meeting, it authorized an appropriation of more than $250,000 to Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The budgeted funds will be distributed through quarterly transfers by the …

Troopers from Michigan State Police are looking into the theft of a car last week from a business in Mottville Township. Investigators said they were notified at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday about a car taken from the Marathon gas station in the 11000 block of U.S. 12. The victim told authorities she was inside the station paying the cashier and her …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging recently received a $750 donation from Farmers State Bank in Sturgis.  The money was raised by the employees at the bank. The donation will go toward benefiting COA members and the activities and other programs in which they participate. On Wednesday, January 24, representatives from the bank presented the check to the COA …

Members of the Centreville Village Council voted recently to raise monthly water rates. A fixed-fee increase of $3.18 plus another $1.55 per 1,000 gallons used. Those figures will increase annually, based on cost of living. A rate comparison done for council members showed their bills increasing between $5 and $10 per month under the new plan. The increase was based on …

Michigan State Police have identified the man who was killed in a gunfight that also left two troopers injured. Police say preliminary results from an autopsy Thursday showed 62-year-old David Kidney of Union City died of a single gunshot wound sustained while exchanging gunfire with troopers. Detective Sgt. Aaron Steensma and Trooper Daniel Thayer were executing a search warrant when …

Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics Unit arrested four people following the execution of a narcotics-related search warrant. Sheriff’s officials said the SCAN unit was called Monday to the 500 block of East Chicago Road in White Pigeon. As a result of the search warrant, a male and a female from White Pigeon, and a man and woman …

A man who police say broke into a southern Michigan apartment and attacked his ex-girlfriend with a sword is expected to get a mental health exam. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports defense lawyer James Sauber said Tuesday he’ll request the examination next week for 35-year-old Anthony Whitlock of Battle Creek. Whitlock is jailed on charges including assault with intent to murder. Sauber …

Two Colon residents have been arrested on drug-related charges. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit recently executed a search warrant at a residence in the 58000 block of Lepley Road in Colon Township. SCAN members located a number of items related to the production of methamphetamine, according to authorities. …