Government

The final public presentation of a non-motorized trailway master plan will be offered at 5:30 p.m. today at Sturgis Township Hall. The plan was developed in partnership between Sturgis, Fawn River, Sherman and Burr Oak townships, and the city of Sturgis, Sturgis Hospital, and the Sturgis Area Community Foundation. Centering on an abandoned railroad line from Sturgis to Coldwater, the …

The city of Three Rivers and Three Rivers Community Schools have collaborated to develop a new traffic pattern at Andrews Elementary. City officials said the section of South Street, between Douglas and Grant avenues, is now one-way in an eastbound direction only. In addition, parking is allowed only on the stretch of South Street adjacent to the school. Also, there …

Municipal officials in Three Rivers have approved a plan that will see the city gain more than six acres of land. In exchange for deeding the 6.2-acre plot behind the city’s Department of Public Services facility, Three Rivers Health would benefit from having South Health Parkway included in the municipal street category. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners last week instructed …

A 35-year-old White Pigeon man was killed shortly after 3am Sunday in a car-pedestrian crash in the 69000 block of Kalamazoo Street in White Pigeon Township. County sheriff’s deputies identify the victim as Jeremy Overton. He was reportedly walking northbound in the roadway at the time of the crash. The driver, 23-year-old Eric Hill of White Pigeon, was arrested for …

Flowerfield Township officials have agreed to renew the township’s contract with the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department. During action last week, township officials agreed to the fixed-rate payment of $18,000 for service to the eastern half of the township through 2013. The township has a separate agreement with Marcellus for coverage on the western half of Flowerfield Township’s jurisdiction.

The purchase of a trained dog to be used for therapeutic and calming purposes is being considered by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The potential action is based on an agreement with Linda Baker, victims’ rights coordinator who works for the county prosecutor’s office. Baker said three other counties in the state have dogs used for victims or …

The Michigan Department of Community Health has recognized the local health department for outstanding programming. The award, bestowed for the second consecutive year to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, was given for the Healthy Beginnings nutrition program. Healthy Beginnings is an early childhood/parent education program applicable to soon-to-be mothers and parents with children 5 years and younger. A plaque …

A Nov. 5 motion related to a proposed senior center in Sturgis was rescinded Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The action came after commissioners discussed the $10,000 they authorized earlier for legal fees and design costs relevant to the footprint of the proposed facility. Commissioners agreed their Nov. 5 action was done too hastily, and a …

Park Township has paid off the loan used to help purchase its half of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department station. Following action its members took last week, the Park Township Board of Trustees agreed to allocate the final amount to cover the $300,000 loan it took out to help cover the $750,000 it needed for its half of the $1.5 …

The former president of the Three Rivers Little League has turned himself in to authorities after he was suspected of stealing funds from the league’s coffers. Clint Roberts, 37, a Lockport Township resident, was arraigned before District Court Judge Jeff Middleton last week on a charge of embezzlement less than $20,000. Parents of Little League players became suspicious of Roberts …