Government

The St. Joseph County Sheriff ’s Department explorer post is selling 9-1-1 mailbox signs. The signs are green with reflective numbers on both sides, with dimensions of 6-inches by 17.5-inches. Signs are available in a vertical and horizontal layout. They are $15.50, with all proceeds going to Explorer Scout Post for uniforms and educational training. Signs can be ordered through …

A Sturgis man has been added to St. Joseph County’s Planning Commission Board. During action last week, county commissioners agreed to make Gregg Dohm a member. His appointment fills one of two vacancies on the planning commission. Dohm, who is retired and serves as president of the Pheasant Pointe Condo Association, will serve through 2017, when, the term of his …

A team of mountain-bike enthusiasts has agreed to help develop a 10-mile route at Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. Parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald told members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday he made contact last fall with Augusta-based Southwest Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association about the concept. After a site visit with …

Burr Oak’s plan to outsource its police protection was completed Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the village. Less than a week after village officials staged a special meeting to dissolve its department and accept the sheriff’s department proposal, the issue was put in motion with the county commission’s endorsement. The …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced the date, times and locations of in-district office hours. Miller will be on hand Monday to meet with constituents 6:30 to 8 a.m. at Dawn and Phil’s Café in Colon, and 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Yoder’s Country Market in Centreville. Miller said listening to the concerns and ideas of people in the district …

Southern Michigan Bank and Trust officials said it has not detected a data breach following an incident during which a laptop containing client information was stolen. Bank chairman John Castle said the laptop was stolen from an employee’s vehicle April 10. It is password protected and an internal investigation has found the computer has not been accessed. Its contents include …

St. Joseph County officials have agreed to provide financial assistance to help with a project at a local cemetery. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, administrator Pat Yoder said the county was asked by the Sturgis chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to provide $2,200, to match like financial commitments offered by Nottawa Township and the village of Centreville. …

An independent contractor agreement was reached Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agreement with Constantine Fire Chief Mike Haydon is an annual arrangement through the county’s Local Emergency Planning Committee. Yoder said Haydon has been hired the past six years to review plans for businesses that meet or exceed certain thresholds …

Business related to parks and recreation accounted for a large portion of Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. In all, five separate matters were fielded and ultimately approved by the commission. Most noteworthy was a proposal from Jones Petrie Rafinski for design services work at Covered Bridge Farm Park, the newest addition to the county’s parks inventory. The …

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department investigators are continuing to look into the theft of numerous items from a shed and its vicinity last month in Burr Oak Township. According to a department media release, items taken include hand and power tools, a plasma cutting torch, a battery charger, a router and router table, and an undisclosed quantity of plywood. The …