Government

St. Joseph County officials last week approved an agreement to continue extension services from Michigan State University. The matter had been debated during budget discussions but ultimately, commissioners agreed to a contract in excess of $123,000 For the money, St. Joseph County will receive an educator and program coordinator, both on a part-time basis. In addition, the allocation will cover …

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses last week and face additional charges of mail theft. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies spotted a vehicle at 3:15 p.m. Saturday parked along Mill Pond Road near Fawn River Road in White Pigeon Township. Investigators said a 23-year-old woman was seen burning mail. Meanwhile, deputies found she and her 24-year-old …

Sturgis city commissioners earlier this month reappointed five members to the city’s Building Authority Board for one-year terms. They are Julie Andrews, Dan Arney, Andy Boyd, Ned Heydlauff and Mike Wilson. In an unrelated matter of business, a report on expanding the city’s fiber optic capabilities resulted in no action. Commissioners, however, expressed an interest in exploring a proposal for …

Members from two area fire departments made Christmas brighter for some Three Rivers and area families last week. Personnel from Three Rivers and Fabius-Park departments Friday delivered gifts to families in the annual “Firefighters for Santa.” Beginning at 3 p.m., firefighters, with the help of Santa, delivered the presents in one- hour blocks. In addition, each of the 90 families …

A Marcellus man died in a house fire over the holiday weekend. Marcellus firefighters were dispatched to a home on Woodland Street early Sunday afternoon where they found 63-year-old Gordon Booz deceased inside the house. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Cass County sheriff’s officials have submitted to the prosecutor’s office information regarding a man allegedly impersonating a police officer. The agency last week received a tip from a Jones resident aware of a neighbor on Born Street who matched the description of a subject and his vehicle mentioned in a department press release. A deputy responded to the address and …

Members of the White Pigeon Fire Department continued a long-standing tradition last week. The agency has collected food and non-perishable items for local families and arranged a visit from Santa. Their efforts this year benefitted 60 local families. The collection of items was done over the course of several Saturdays, when firefighters could be found outside Wagoner’s market collecting items. …

A number of appointments and reappointments to various boards were made by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week. The terms of Jeff Knautz and Steve Houts to the county’s parks and recreation commission were due to expire Dec. 31. Their terms were renewed Tuesday for three more years. Linda Leensvaart was reappointed to the St. Joseph County …

A two-story residence in Sturgis was destroyed by fire Thursday. Sturgis Fire Captain Cody Cripe said crews were called shortly before 6 a.m. to an address on Lakeview Avenue. The first-arriving unit reported a structure with heavy fire showing from the rear of the house. The fire was extending from the basement to the second floor, both interior and exterior. …

Sheriff’s officials responded to an attempted larceny from a motor vehicle early Wednesday in Leonidas Township. According to a department media release, a vehicle driven by a Union City man slid off Shannon Road, near Blossom Road, at 3:23 a.m. The victim was able to flag down a passing motorist, who provided a ride back to the Union City man’s …