Government

Two candidates for different offices in St. Joseph County have announced their political plans. Sheriff Brad Balk, 58, filed his nominating petition Monday. Meanwhile, Sturgis attorney Rob Pattison, 46, has announced he will run for the office of St. Joseph County District Court judge. Balk, whose first four-year term as sheriff expires at the end of the year, said he …

The City of Three Rivers is warning Scidmore Park supporters about a website donation scam. There are links from Facebook pages to a website not created nor authorized by the city. The illicit website encourages people to send funds to any of three prospective recipients: the City of Three Rivers, Friends of Scidmore Park, or the Three Rivers Area Community …

Village officials in Colon have indicated there will not be a Winter Festival this year. After an inaugural winter celebration took place in 2010, the one-day, end-of-January festival did not return for a follow-up in 2011 due to lack of volunteers, according to village president Tom Whitford. The idea of trying it again for 2012 was mulled last fall, but …

The Sturgis Department of Public Safety is cautioning residents to not leave keys in vehicles parked outside overnight, as the thefts of three vehicles were reported Friday. Between 4:30 and 8:30 a.m. Friday, vehicles left unlocked with keys in the ignition were stolen from outside residences in the 400 block of East South Street, the 400 block of Williams Street …

A 26-year-old Constantine woman was charged with a list of offenses following an incident at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday last week in the town of LaGrange, Ind. An officer responding to a call of a disturbance at a residence in the 500 block of East Michigan Street was allegedly struck in the face while trying to arrest Rachael Gieber, a Constantine …

A lifelong Park Township resident has accepted an offer to serve as St. Joseph County treasurer. Judie Ratering will serve the rest of 2012 as treasurer following a consensus reached early Thursday by a three-member panel. The 52-year-old Ratering will succeed Phyllis Bainbridge, who is retiring next week due to health issues. Ratering currently serves as a mortgage lender at …

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority has announced it will stage a work session in mid February. The event takes place 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Three Rivers Area Chamber. According to an announcement about the meeting, its purpose is to discuss goals and long-term goals during its 2013 fiscal year.

Tax-filing assistance for people who are elderly or in a moderate-to-low income bracket will be available in St. Joseph County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will be offered at Community Head Start buildings in Three Rivers and Sturgis. The free service provides tax assistance to families with a household income of $50,000 or less annually. Volunteer tax preparers are …

A LaGrange County woman was treated for injuries sustained after she used gasoline to relight a coal stove in her basement. The woman, whose name and age were not released by the Shipshewana Fire Department, was burned after the coal stove burst into flames with the application of gasoline. The blaze caught the basement on fire, causing significant fire, smoke …

A former village council member has been appointed to serve on the Constantine Sewer Ad Hoc Committee. Scott Chiddister, a past chairman of the committee, was put on the panel following a vote by members of the Constantine Village Council last week. Chiddister’s addition to the committee, and his expertise as an engineer and former municipal official, could come in …