Government

Authorities say commercial lawn equipment, farm implements and construction equipment are being targeted by thieves in Michigan. State police Detective Sgt. Todd Petersen tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that dealerships, with large lots and sometime lax security, are frequent targets of theft in Three Rivers, Cass County, Coldwater and other areas along southern and southwestern Michigan. Petersen says such equipment is …

A motorcyclist from Mendon was injured after his bike was struck by a car at an intersection last week in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s officials said Mark Stephenson, 63, was riding on Shimmel Road around 10 p.m. Thursday, when a car driven by a 16-year-old boy from Troy failed to stop at the Featherstone Road intersection. Stephenson was transported to Borgess …

Dental clinics to serve Medicaid and uninsured patients are expected to open in Sturgis and Coldwater by the end of September after the recent approval of an inter-local contract. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency board OK’d a recommended agreement with the non-profit group “My Community Dental Centers.” Health officer Rebecca Burns said the clinic will fill a much-needed service in …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board approved two significant expenditures last week. During their monthly meeting Wednesday, commissioners OK’d a $1.2 million package that features the construction of an equipment barn and a plan to correct a roofline problem that creates an annual, springtime problem. The barn, projected to cost more than $825,000, will be put in …

A Mendon couple was injured over the weekend after their vehicle was struck by a car in Kalamazoo County. The incident occurred at 2:50 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of South Eighth Street and West S Avenue in Texas Township. Investigators said a 61-year-old Texas Township woman was driving east on West S Avenue when she disregarded a stop sign …

White Pigeon Community Schools has been given a waiver to begin the school year a week before the traditional day-after-Labor Day start. Superintendent Jon Keyer said in addition to the state-mandated additional five days added to the 2016-17 school year, the desire to start Aug. 29 instead of Sept. 6 is to stay consistent with Glen Oaks Community College and …

A day after robbing a 60-year-old Colon woman and dragging her with a vehicle, two 16-year-old Sturgis boys have been arrested. Each is charged with assault/unarmed robbery and use of a computer in the commission of a felony. Authorities have not released their names because they are juveniles. Police said another suspect, a 19- year-old from Sturgis, was questioned in …

Enhanced security measures will likely be employed when the St. Joseph County Road Commission consolidates operations to its Centreville location. Members of the road commission board last week discussed the issue of security, stemming from an incident last month when an estimated two tons of road material was illegally taken from the Colon Township satellite barn. With plans to close …

The May unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by two-tenths of a 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 3.6 percent May unemployment rate was greater than April’s 3.4 percent. However, May’s unemployment rate was 1.2 percent less than the same month one …

Apples, peaches and blueberries are all Michigan-grown fruits that can be purchased at roadside stands with help from a state agency. Through Project Fresh, mothers and children who receive WIC benefits can now pick up their coupons and use them to purchase fresh produce at participating farmer’s markets. Each qualifying participant can receive $20 in coupons that can be redeemed …