Government

A 54-year-old Three Rivers woman was treated for injuries she suffered following a three-vehicle collision Tuesday in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Laura Blount, 52, of Three Rivers, was driving south on U.S. 131 when she disobeyed a traffic signal at Broadway Road. Her vehicle subsequently struck a westbound vehicle driven by Christine Maher, 53, of …

A candidate who said he was a longshot to win the four-man Republican race for 59th House district was victorious in Tuesday’s primary election. Aaron Miller, a high-school math teacher and Sherman Township resident, captured more than 42 percent of the votes cast in St. Joseph County and 38 percent overall in the two-county district. He will face Democrat Mike …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission can continue to count on the voter-approved 1 mill it has relied on the past 20 years, as it was renewed for a 10-year period Tuesday. A request for an additional two mills, however, met a different fate in the primary election. The request for additional mills was defeated by a 56 to 44 …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Allen Balog was voted to two more years of duty Tuesday. The incumbent candidate for the county’s District 1 post defeated challenger Del Martin, 647 votes to 340 tallies. Balog, 58, is an insurance salesman wrapping up his fourth year as a county commissioner. A Three Rivers resident, Balog said he was grateful to have the …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority will be able to maintain its current level of services, as voters Tuesday renewed its request for 0.33 mills. The one-third mill will be in place for four years and will generate approximately $630,000 annually to help support its financial standing. Unofficial results show the renewal request passed by a 3-to-2 margin.

Centreville and Sturgis school districts were successful Tuesday in renewing their respective operational millages. Centreville was asking for renewal of nearly 20.2 mills for a 10-year period. At stake was more than $720,000 annually. Meanwhile, Sturgis Public Schools was seeking renewal of 18 mills over a 20-year period. Its 18 mills generate about $2.5 million a year.

Voters in Leonidas and Nottawa townships agreed to renew millages for separate operations. Leonidas Township voters renewed 1.7 mills for a five-year period for fire and ambulance services. The millage generates more than $1.7 million annually to fund the emergency services. Meanwhile, Nottawa Township Library was seeking renewal of more than 1.6 mills. The millage will be in effect for …

Longtime U.S. Rep. Fred Upton defeated a nurse from Dowagiac in the 6th District GOP primary in southwestern Michigan.  The 61-year-old Upton of St. Joseph defeated 46-year-old Jim Bussler in Tuesday’s primary. Upton has been in the House since 1987 and was widely considered a shoo-in to win the primary.  Before his election to Congress, Upton was director of legislative …

Michigan voters have passed Proposal 1, the only statewide ballot question in Tuesday’s election, meaning the phase-out of Michigan’s personal property tax on business will continue. Proposal 1 would gradually eliminate the personal property tax that some companies pay on equipment or machinery. The PPT was a source of revenue for many local communities, but Michigan’s general fund would partially …

A Honduras citizen sustained critical injuries in a single car crash Sunday evening on Maystead Road in Burr Oak Township. 24-year-old Walther Castro-Ramirez lost control of his van and hit a tree. He was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center.