Government

Bruce Harker of the Sturgis Fire Department was honored recently during a pinning ceremony. According to Director of Public Safety Geoff Smith, Harker has been promoted to shift commander. Harker received his pins, and his oath was reinstated by city clerk Ken Rhodes. Harker has been a part of the Sturgis Fire Department since 2000 and a city employee since …

The Next Generation Fund for Sturgis recently awarded grants in support of three community programs and projects. The recipients are: Eastwood School, $200 for the Eastwood Giving Garden; Sturgis Elks Club, $100 toward its annual Back-to-School Clothing Drive; and Doyle Community Center, $100 to assist in providing open-gym hours at no charge for 6th- through 12th-grade students on school-vacation days. …

A 22-year-old Sturgis resident died in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in Florence Township. State police said Jesse Haack was the operator of a vehicle backing out of a driveway on Dickinson Road shortly before 7 p.m., when it was struck by a westbound car driven by Delrico McGee, 20, of Constantine. The incident took place just west of Sevison …

A period of information gathering will begin soon, as the city of Three Rivers and the Three Rivers Public Library consider a feasibility study regarding a new location for the library. Library officials during their monthly board meeting Tuesday said the former Whitehouse Manufacturing building, at the southwest corner of Main Street and Michigan Avenue, is being considered. A plan …

Michigan State University Extension’s Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute has announced Eric Anderson will be the new Extension educator for field crops and specialty crop production in St. Joseph County. Anderson, who will begin work in late September, will work with faculty, specialists, field-based educators and farmers to achieve efficient and economical crop production and overall advancement of the Michigan agricultural …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded this week to a breaking-and-entering incident at a residence in Fabius Township. According to a department media release, the situation was investigated Monday in the 12000 block of Coon Hollow Road. Sheriff’s officials said it appears the suspects made entry through a basement window at the rear of the residence. Items just small …

Nearly two dozen local officials, including State Rep. Aaron Miller and State Sen. John Proos, took part Tuesday in a tour of the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority headquarters as well as a ride-along. Officials from the CTA said the first-of-its-kind event was staged to help promote the services it offers countywide. The group, which featured representation from Sturgis police, …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging officials stated last week they will continue to allocate nearly $17,000 for senior mental-health services next fiscal year. But, they told the county’s mental health agency not to count on any additional funding. Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, said her agency’s 2015-16 budget continues the mental-health-services allocation despite recent concerns over St. Joseph County …

The Constantine Village Council has investigated and validated a claim that the Constantine Township Library has been overcharged on its water-sewer bill since 2007. Village manager Mark Honeysett said the library has two water meters— one for the building and one for lawn sprinklers. The problem centered on water to irrigate the lawn, which ran through both meters, Honeysett noted. …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough offered praise to investigators involved in the arrest last week of Three Rivers shooting suspect Westley George. McDonough stated in a media release that the situation “was difficult (but) handled professionally and without incident.” McDonough also expressed his condolences and prayers to the family and friends of victim Eugene Jackson. The 24-year-old Jackson died …