Government

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced office hours for an informal gathering later this month in Cass County. Miller invites residents to join him 8 to 9 a.m. March 30 at the Broadway Café, 158 S.  Broadway St., in Cassopolis. Miller said connecting face-to-face with people in communities throughout the district is one of the most rewarding aspects of being …

St. Joseph County’s rivers are in store for a major clearing, as commissioners this week approved a $15,000 request for removal of deadfall. Conservation district director Carolyn Grace said the funds are necessary to address a number of trees that fell over and into the river during the fall and winter months. Grace said various stretches of the county’s six …

A memorandum of understanding with the city of Three Rivers was approved this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The matter centers on shared maintenance of a proposed non-motorized pedestrian trail from South Health Parkway in Three Rivers to Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. Specifically, the agreement calls for each entity to address litter, weed control, …

A Delton man wanted on a warrant from Kalamazoo County faces additional charges after he attempted to flee from a Schoolcraft officer this week. Chief Bryan Campbell said a patrol sergeant conducted a traffic stop at 4 p.m. Tuesday on West VW Avenue, near 16th Street, after the driver was observed speeding in the village. During the course of the …

St. Joseph County’s plan to establish itself as a premier location for softball tournaments and other outdoor sporting events was solidified Tuesday, when county commissioners approved more than $1.6 million in funding toward a four-field complex in Sturgis. The financial commitment to Sturgis officials came exactly six months after it allocated $2.8 million to the city of Three Rivers for …

A Florence Township man who came up short in his bid for the county’s board of commissioners two years ago, announced he will try again. Tim Carls, a 55-year-old, full-time farmer, will run as a Democrat in the primary election Aug. 2. If he is unopposed in the primary, Carls will be a candidate in November’s general election. Carls is …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel said 171 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control permits were issued in 2015, a figure he presented during his annual report Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Other information Wenzel shared included the fact that 25 drain-maintenance permits were authorized to local farmers and constituents last year. The maintenance work was …

The body of a 68-year-old man has been found in a storm drain outside his southern Michigan business. The man’s body was discovered partially submerged about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Fort Custer Industrial Park in Battle Creek. Battle Creek police say it appears the Galesburg man was working alone overnight and was trying to clear out the drain near …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has announced its deputies of the year. Road deputy Jody Hughes and corrections deputy Andy Steinbarger were recipients of the award, announced by Sheriff Brad Balk. For Hughes, the recognition marks the second consecutive year he has won the honor. Hughes said he was humbled and honored, especially since he expected the award to …

Sturgis city commissioners last week said they want to study the potential development of a municipal dog park. Commissioners said they have received multiple inquiries from constituents about a dog park, and city manager Mike Hughes said that and development of recreation trails are among the community’s top priorities, after a recent review of the city’s master recreation plan. Commissioner …