Government

Officials say a fire at a recycling plant for byproducts of cereal making in Battle Creek caused more than $275,000 in damage. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the fire started Monday night at ReConserve Inc. when an end loader with a fuel leak caught fire at an entrance to the building. No one was injured. Firefighters responded and quickly extinguished …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission can start budgeting for some major roadwork set to take place this summer. Agency manager Chris Minger said Michigan Department of Transportation over the weekend awarded its bids statewide for summer projects, including three in St. Joseph County. The three routes are: Silver Street in Mendon Township, Lovers Lane in Lockport Township and Colon …

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses last week as part of a compliance check for people on parole or probation. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit teamed with parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections on the various checks Thursday. At a location in the 31000 block of Kelly Road in Burr Oak Township, several …

Members of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority/Michigan Main Street Board last week approved offering a contract to a California man to serve as executive director of the agency. David Vago is a farm technician at East Bay Regional Park District in Oakland. Board members during a meeting Friday agreed to offer a $42,000 salary for the full-time position. Vago …

A cold-case investigation led by Cass County officials resulted in the arrest of an Indiana man related to a case dating to 1977. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Raymond Richmond, a 56-year-old South Bend resident, was arrested Thursday in connection with the November 1977 homicide of Robert Stasiak. The 25-year-old Stasiak was found shot at his parents’ Edwardsburg-area house …

A survey of the sanitary sewer system in the city of Sturgis is expected to conclude today. The survey has involved opening manholes in the streets and easements. Then, a nontoxic smoke is blown into the sewer mains to locate breaks and defects in the system. Smoke possibly seen coming from vent stacks on buildings or holes in the ground …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has voted for a legislative package to institute sweeping reforms for Detroit Public Schools. Miller, who serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, said without the changes, DPS could go bankrupt, leaving the state responsible for more than $3 billion in debt. He said the finances of the new Community District will be under strict state …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency last month received the 2016 Jean Chabut Health Policy Champions Award. The award, along with a special legislative tribute, was presented by State Representatives Aaron Miller and Eric Leutheuser during the Michigan Public Health Week Ceremonies at the Capitol Rotunda. The tri-county health department was acknowledged for its emergency preparedness capabilities as demonstrated by …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission have two weeks before they’ll regroup and take a deeper look at the lopsided defeat the agency suffered this week. By a margin of nearly 5-to-1, a request for an additional 2.5 mills over a 10-year period was turned down Tuesday. Agency officials said they hope to get a better understanding of …

St. Joseph County’s longtime medical examiner was recognized by members of the county commission during their meeting this week. A proclamation honoring John Robertson was approved by commissioners Tuesday. Commissioner Rick Shaffer read the proclamation. It commended Robertson for his personal commitment of time and energy required to responsibly perform a public duty, and for the unselfish sacrifices he demonstrated …