Government

The St. Joseph County Clerk’s Office is expected to complete by the end of the week the validation of signatures turned in Friday as part of the Three Rivers Board of Education recall process. Deputy clerk Phyllis Lung said the procedure is done by entering into a data base the names of those who signed. A computer cross-reference will confirm …

White Pigeon Township officials this week are expected to consider whether to approve the creation of a public pet cemetery. Slated for the northern end of White Pigeon Township Cemetery on Vermont Street, the proposal would have an initial plot of 1,040 graves. The idea was raised at the township’s July meeting and is on Tuesday’s agenda for additional deliberation. …

State police are appealing to the public for help in identifying suspects involved in a rash of larceny-from-vehicle incidents last week in Park Township. According to a department media release, the incidents occurred between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 6:30 a.m. Wednesday along Buckhorn Road between Heimbach Road and South Fisher Lake Road.

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation is looking for creative ideas that show love for the community. The “Love Three Rivers” competition seeks ideas for a beautification project within the city. The foundation will award mini-grants to the top proposals. The offer is open to any individual, business, or non-profit organization. Deadline is Friday. A full explanation of rules can …

A 38-year-old Leonidas man was recently sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. John Feek was sentenced last week by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct. In return for his plea, several other criminal sexual conduct, computer crimes and child-abuse charges were not prosecuted. Feek was credited with 287 days served …

Sturgis voters will decide Nov. 3 whether residents of single-family homes will be able to have three dogs at their residence. Members of the city commission last week approved language for a possible dog-ordinance amendment and have sent it to St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald. If voters approve the amendment, owning three dogs within the city limits will require …

The Michigan State Police Post at Coldwater, which has jurisdiction in St. Joseph County, has added two recent graduates. Rudyard native Robert English and Lynard Oliver II of Jackson will begin their law-enforcement careers with the agency. The pair was a part of the 128th Trooper Recruit School graduation last week. A total of 62 people were in the class.

About a quarter of the motorists involved in a massive 193-vehicle pileup during a winter storm on a southwestern Michigan freeway were fined. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Thursday that 48 drivers collectively paid more than $5,600 for driving too fast for road conditions or impeding traffic in the Jan. 9 pileup on Interstate 94 near Galesburg. Details of the fines …

Former Michigan lawmaker Harry Gast, a straight-talking Republican who served for 32 years and led the state Senate’s budget panel his final 18 years in the Capitol, died Thursday. He was 94. The farmer from St. Joseph was respected for delivering budget news bluntly to legislators and telling them what they did not always want to hear. He served in …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department investigated a larceny from a motor vehicle at a residence in the 56300 block of Buckhorn Road in Park Township. The theft is suspected to have taken place between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. It was reported at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.