Government

The August unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by 1 percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.7 percent August unemployment rate was less than July’s 4.7 percent. August’s unemployment rate was one-tenth of a percent less than the same month one year …

The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board of St. Joseph County is encouraging the public to attend its annual testimonial meeting Tuesday. Current and past clients are invited to share the positive impact they have realized from the services of the Centreville-based agency. The meeting portion of the event starts at 4:30 p.m., while the public hearing begins …

A boil-water notice for Lockport Township was put into effect at 3 p.m. Friday. According to Jennifer Ransbottom, director of utility management services for Jones Petrie Rafinski, a water sample taken from a Moorepark Road well detected the presence of coliform bacteria. Ransbottom said there was no sign of E. coli bacteria found in any of the samples. She said …

A Three Rivers man considered a threat to the public was arrested early this morning following a standoff with police that started Thursday evening and lasted several hours. According to the Three Rivers Police Department, officers learned that Jaden Miars was at a residence in the 800 block of Fourth Street. Miars had warrants for his arrest stemming from multiple …

Next month’s Fall Color Tour will have a new attraction at its Meyer Broadway Park stop. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a resolution for a one-day special license to allow the sale of beer during the annual event. County administrator Pat Yoder said Constantine Brewing Co. will have a space at the park – one …

The last Adopt-A-Highway pickup along state roadways is about to get underway. Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation program will be collecting litter along highway roadsides from Saturday through Oct. 2. There are three scheduled Adopt-A-Highway pickups each year: one each in the spring, summer and fall. Every year, Adopt-A-Highway crews collect about 70,000 bags of trash. The volunteer …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has issued an invitation for constituents to join him during three office hours next week. Miller said he will host the meetings 7 to 9 a.m. Monday at Dawn & Phil’s Café in Colon; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Yoder’s Country Market in Centreville; and noon to 2 p.m. at Town Fryer in Constantine. Miller called …

Michigan’s new Amber Alert-like system to quickly warn people of mass shootings, terrorist attacks and other nearby threats is operational. State police on Thursday announced the update about the system. Following activation by law enforcement, the system can be used to interrupt radio and TV broadcasting in the affected area. A wireless emergency alert can also be issued through mobile …

Two White Pigeon residents were arrested this week after leading authorities on a pursuit between Three Rivers and White Pigeon. According to the Three Rivers Police Department, officers were called at 9 p.m. Monday to the 200 block of East Michigan Avenue in response to a larceny report. Officers discovered a residence had been ransacked and several items stolen, including …

Children of St. Joseph County parents who are undereducated, live in poverty and might be involved with methamphetamine are at risk of becoming a dubious statistic in the county’s juvenile court system. The conclusion was offered Tuesday to St. Joseph County Commissioners by Tom Robertson, director and referee of the county’s family court juvenile division. Robertson’s appearance was a scheduled …