Government

Members of the Sherman Township Planning Commission have agreed to issue a special land-use permit to two brothers for a 25-site camp facility. Proposed by Ben and Jamey Rouch of Three Rivers, the campground could potentially include cabins up to 400 square feet. It also may feature tent and RV camping. The Rouchs said they would like to include an …

Sturgis city commissioners have vetoed a staff plan that would have revived a seven-member citizens committee to prioritize sidewalk projects and advise the commission on sidewalk policy issues. The vote was 5-4. The commissioner’s majority said they do not believe a citizens committee is necessary to prioritize sidewalk needs, instead leaving the recommendations to city staff with commissioners approving final …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by one-tenth 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 3.8 percent March unemployment rate was greater than February’s 3.7 percent. March’s unemployment rate was 1 percent less than the same month one year …

Glen Oaks Community College’s Board of Trustees voted this week to proceed with the bidding, design and construction of a $6.5 million, 120-bed student housing facility. Subject to final approval on a USDA low-interest loan, the proposed four-story building would begin with a groundbreaking expected to take place in early summer with plans for the facility to open with the …

The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council has honored the St. Joseph County Road Commission with a 2016 TAMC Organization Award. The award was presented last week during the annual TAMC Spring Conference in Dearborn. Chris Minger, St. Joseph County’s Managing Director, told TAMC that the Centreville-based road commission has spent many hours developing five year plans with various funding balances. …

State Reps. Aaron Miller and Eric Leutheuser recently presented a legislative tribute to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency in the Capitol rotunda after the agency was recognized with an award during National Health Week. Miller and Leutheuser presented the tribute to Rebecca Burns, health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph County, and Jim Cook, emergency preparedness coordinator for the tri-county agency, …

Seven individuals were named to the St. Joseph County Remonumentation Peer Review Group this week. The action was taken during Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting. Group members provide advice on original public land survey corners presented by surveyors before the county accepts the corners for filing under its County Remonumentation Plan. Members of the group will serve for a term …

The reward for finding who was responsible for damage at Oak Lawn Cemetery earlier this month in Sturgis has been raised to $3,000, thanks to donations from a number of area businesses. Police said the vandalism occurred between April 1 and 3. In all, 34 headstones – some dating to the 1800s – were damaged. Other damage included shots from …

Cases associated with marijuana and methamphetamine were the most common drug-related incidents handled by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department in 2015. Led by Sheriff Brad Balk and aided largely by Captain Jason Bingaman, the department’s annual report was presented to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. The report featured an assortment of statistics related to crime, narcotics …

Remnants of methamphetamine labs have been found in the past two weeks on roadsides in Branch County. The Daily Reporter of Coldwater reported Monday that two certified meth disposal officers have been called on to remove 15 meth labs. Sheriff John Pollack says people should be suspicious before picking up bottles that are found, and to leave them alone if …