Government

The September unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased 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 3.7 percent September unemployment rate was less than August’s 3.8 percent. Also, September’s unemployment rate was 1.4 percent less than the same month one …

Overall numbers were down at Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste and electronics items compared to last fall’s event. Nonetheless, organizers are still calling the four-hour event a success because so many items were disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, said the following amounts were collected Saturday: 1,500 …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics assisted the Michigan Department of Corrections in parole and probation compliance checks last week. In all, nine residences were searched Thursday, resulting in five arrests. Officials said arrests were made in Three Rivers, Constantine and Sturgis. Charges include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, delivery of a controlled substance, maintaining a drug …

The windows on certain Michigan State Police cars automatically roll down in high temperatures, one of the key changes after two dogs died of heat stroke in Livingston County in 2013, the department said. Michigan State Police publicly confirmed the deaths this week — more than two years later — in response to a WDIV-TV report about a lawsuit related …

St. Joseph County’s animal control director position is being overseen by the sheriff’s department while a search for a successor to Tom Miller continues. Two matters related to animal control took place during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. First, commissioners endorsed a request to fill the position of animal control officer/facility supervisor. Later, it was announced that longtime employee Brooke Bingaman …

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week voted in favor of a $1.2 billion legislative package to fix Michigan’s transportation system, including a bill he introduced that increases the use of competitive bidding for local road and bridge projects. Miller said House Bill 4610 expands the use of competitive bidding to keep the costs of road and bridge repair more affordable …

An Elkhart-based company was selected Tuesday to lead a sewer infrastructure project at a county park in Fawn River Township. Commissioners accepted the lowest of three bids, which was submitted by C&E Excavating for almost $104,000. County administrator Pat Yoder said he will have a meeting next week with company officials to go over the full scope of the project. …

Police are releasing no new information about two murders that occurred late this summer in St. Joseph County, but officials continue to investigate the two separate homicides. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough this week said police are awaiting results from the Michigan State Police crime lab regarding evidence collected at both scenes. About 4 a.m. Aug. 31, the body …

Twenty-three people were recognized Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for their milestone anniversaries as county employees. Leading the group was former clerk Pattie Bender, acknowledged for 45 years of employment before she retired June 30. Next was deputy county clerk Sandy Bowen for 40 years, followed by victim services coordinator Linda Baker for three decades of …

A police officer has been charged with a moving violation causing death in a crash that killed a woman trying to cross a southwestern Michigan road. Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic announced Tuesday the filing of the misdemeanor against Benton Township officer Eugene Anderson. The charge is punishable by up to a year in jail upon conviction. Sepic says Anderson …