Government

The St. Joseph County veterans services office is relocating from Annex II to the first floor of the historic courthouse in Centreville. The move is expected to be complete by the end of the day today. Stoney Summey, newly named director of veterans affairs and community outreach, also will be at that location.

Moving forward at a pace quicker than expected, a panel assembled to interview finalists for the appointed position of clerk and register of deeds will interview two finalists this week. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said Tabitha Wedge and Lindsay Oswald will return for second interviews Tuesday after they were a slate of five interviewed last week. …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit performed a series of compliance checks last week. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, the SCAN unit was aided by parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections to ensure individuals were in compliance with terms of their probation or parole. Nine addresses were visited during Thursday’s compliance checks. …

Sturgis city commissioners last week discussed a special-use request, currently before the city planning commission, which would create a rental duplex out of a single-family home. Opinions were split on whether the city should hold the line on duplexes to encourage more owner-occupied homes or expand residential rental opportunities. The commission will ask the planning commission to review current ordinances …

Five candidates hoping to land the 18-month appointment of county clerk and register of deeds were interviewed Wednesday. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, who will ultimately select the appointed successor to Pattie Bender, said second interviews will likely be staged within the next two weeks. Stutesman was joined by a panel of four additional people – Bender, …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce is warning about a phone scam that has been reported by area residents. The caller asks the potential victim to verify information about their debit card. The alleged verification process is conducted by entering information through the telephone’s push buttons. Anyone who has entered information in this manner is urged to call their …

The village of Constantine has formed a new committee to study sources of funding for anticipated needs by the Constantine Fire Department. The Fire Funding Exploratory Committee was formed after fire Chief Mike Haydon gave the village, and Constantine and Florence townships, notice that the department must replace two trucks and the fire department building within the next 10 years. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller on Tuesday announced that Sturgis will receive a state grant to upgrade a major roadway linking U.S. 12 to a local industrial park. Miller said the Transportation Economic Development Grant, in excess of $171,000, will be used to upgrade White School Road from U.S. 12 to Progress Street, and Progress Street to the west Sturgis city …

The city of Sturgis is offering a battery recycling program. The pilot program will allow people to drop off household and other types of batteries at the Doyle Center during its business hours. While just about all kinds of batteries are accepted, a full list is available through a link on the city’s website: sturgismi.gov.

Authorities have identified two people killed when their car collided with an ambulance rushing a 74-year-old man to a nearby hospital. The patient also died. Police say 61-year-old Shirley Stokes apparently ran a stop sign and flashing red light late Monday when the ambulance and her car collided three blocks from Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. Shirley Stokes and 54-year-old passenger …