Government

St. Joseph County officials will have some decisions to make in the next two weeks regarding the county treasurer position. After their top choice for the post reconsidered the job and decided to continue working at his current place of employment, the duties were passed on to deputy treasurer Vicky Anders until a permanent treasurer was named. The position is …

Fire-protections service for the eastern half of Flowerfield Township will continue to be provided by the Fabius-Park Fire Department. Members of the department earlier this month agreed to a flat-rate deal with Flowerfield Township officials. The $18,000 annual rate will continue the agreement; the west side of Flowerfield Township receives its fire protection from the Marcellus Fire Department. Regarding concerns …

Municipal officials in Sturgis last week made a few modifications to the city’s policy regarding electrical shut-off procedures. City Manager Mike Hughes said the new policy will allow customers with a delinquent balance the option of entering a payment plan with the city. Also, a phone number where such a plan can be arranged will be clearly visible on an …

A potential wastewater-improvement project could be one of the recommendations from a company Sturgis municipal officials hired this week to map out a 20-year plan for their infrastructure service. City leaders on Wednesday voted to contract with engineering firm Fleis & VandenBrink to begin the city’s wastewater needs for the next 20 years. The $43,000 study will help city leaders …

Mark Siljander, a former Three Rivers resident and one-time U.S. congressman whose jurisdiction included Southwest Michigan, was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison for two offenses. Siljander was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., after he previously pled guilty to obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. The former congressman, who now lives …

The overnight snow that hit St. Joseph and other counties in Southwest Michigan prompted the city of Sturgis to issue a reminder about snow emergencies. A snow emergency in the city of Sturgis goes into effect when accumulation reaches four inches or more. During a snow emergency, no vehicles may be parked on city streets. The measure is put into …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police at White Pigeon post said a 19-year-old man from Indiana was released Tuesday for lack of evidence after he attempted to meet two 14-year-old girls in Centreville. Police said the man was in a van and parked outside a vacant house on Birkhold Street. The man told police he was meeting two girls, ages …

The Fabius-Park Fire Department recently received an insurance check for nearly $89,000 after much of its equipment was deemed a loss from a Nov. 3 fire in Park Township. A chemical release at a site where barrels of highly corrosive chemicals were being stored resulted in contamination and the subsequent loss of nine air packs, nine sets of turnout gear, …

Nottawa Township’s Planning Commission on Tuesday accepted a partnership agreement with the Branch County Conservation District. Commission members acted on the Prairie River Watershed Planning Project, which ensures stewardship of the Prairie River and its tributaries. Nottawa Township’s Board of Trustees already endorsed the plan, which became official Tuesday with the signature of planning commission chairman Jerry Loudenslager. Rachel Smith, …

Authorities in Kalamazoo say a body found under the ice in a lake at a city park belonged to a 27-year-old man who disappeared in November.  Police say rescue crews and a dive team got a call Sunday to Spring Valley Park after someone spotted a body in the water.  The body has been identified as that of Jason K. Bassett. …