Government

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners last week agreed to extend its auditing services for one year with a Jackson-based firm. The county and Rehmann Robson concluded a three-year contract with the company’s performance of the county’s 2014 audit. County administrator Pat Yoder said finance director Joni Smith recommended the county renew its contract with the company for one year …

A White Pigeon teenager was treated for minor injuries after causing a two-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Porter Township. Cass County Deputy Philip Esarey said sheriff’s deputies responded to the intersection of Bellows and Sweet roads at 3:15 p.m. Friday following a report of a personal-injury accident. Deputies said a northbound vehicle driven by Sara Messenger, 17, crossed …

The Michigan Main Street Center has awarded its third and final Design Assistance service of the 2015 fiscal year to Bruce Monroe, property owner of the “Kelsey Block,” at 39 through 43 North Main Street in downtown Three Rivers. As part of the service, Monroe received an on-site consultation with Michigan Main Street Design Specialist Debra Johnson, as well as …

The man accused of murdering 11-year-old Jodi Parrack in Constantine eight years ago was in court this week in St. Joseph County. Daniel Furlong, 65, waived his preliminary investigation Wednesday in District Court. The move is related to Furlong’s charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon from a July 28 incident with a 10-year-old girl at what …

A major step to create more parking for people doing business at the county courthouse was taken this week. Members of the county board Tuesday accepted an $18,000 bid from Centreville-based Adams Excavating for the demolition of a two-story house at the southeast corner of Dean and Burr Oak streets. Terms of the contract include all materials hauled from the …

An annual fall event that typically draws participants from at least four states is set to take place again this weekend. The Three Rivers Area Fall Color Tour, a one-day event started in the 1950s, returns Sunday with 13 stops. Sponsored by the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, the tour is a self-guided event in which participants are able …

The second phase of St. Joseph County’s river trails plan was approved by the county commission Tuesday. The step involves Sturgis-based eStudio Design. It will be responsible for expanding the website St. Joe H2O, which can be found through a link on the county’s homepage. The second phase will feature the expansion to include marketing information related to real estate, …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a $1-a-year lease with the village of Burr Oak regarding the use of its water tower space for the county’s E-911 Central Dispatch. Dennis Brandenburg, central dispatch director, said a receiving antenna will be placed on the tower to improve the quality of two-way communication between dispatchers and emergency personnel …

An agreement between the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, and police departments in Three Rivers and Sturgis will be in place three more years following action this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. According to terms of the agreement, the county will provide both departments $35,000 apiece annually. In return, both departments will make available to the …

St. Joseph County Circuit Court was the recipient of three grants that, combined, total nearly three-quarters of a million dollars. Judge Paul Stutesman said the grants are: $317,000 for the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program; $80,000 for the Adult Drug Treatment Court; and $350,000 over three years from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Stutesman said …