Politics

A 62-year-old Mendon woman will seek the District 2 St. Joseph County Commission seat in August. Kathy Pangle has declared her candidacy for the seat, which represents Burr Oak, Colon, Leonidas, Mendon and Park townships. Burr Oak Township resident Don Eaton is the incumbent. Pangle is serving her 14th year on the Mendon Village Council and the Mendon Township Fire …

A Cassopolis man this week testified before the House Committee on Energy Policy in support of legislation authored by state Rep. Aaron Miller, urging Congress to allow spent nuclear waste to be recycled. Taras Lyssenko, general manager of A & T Recovery in Cassopolis, told the committee that the process to recycle and reuse spent nuclear fuel is available, and …

A Three Rivers resident said he plans to challenge county commission chairman Allen Balog for his board of commissioners seat in the November general election. Cody Sharpe, who plans to run as a Democrat, is seeking the First District seat, which represents the city of Three Rivers, and Fabius and Flowerfield townships. Sharpe said his primary concern is the accountability …

A 15-year public servant has announced his candidacy for the Fabius Township Board of Trustees. Lucas Allen issued a press release stating his intention to run for trustee after learning current township trustee Dave Brueck and clerk Kathy McDonough are not seeking re-election. Allen said if elected, he will strive to not only fill the role of trustee in a …

The first person to publicly announce his candidacy for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is a longtime Centreville resident and public official. Dennis Allen said he will seek the Third District seat currently held by 20-year board member and Fishers Lake resident Rick Shaffer. Shaffer has already stated he will not seek re-election for an additional two-year term. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller is encouraging people to take advantage of Free Fishing Weekend, Feb. 13 and 14, by venturing on the ice to a local lake or pond. Miller said no fishing license is required for residents or non-residents during the Free Fishing Weekend. Not only is it a fun time for experienced anglers, Miller said, but it is …

Sturgis city commissioners have called for the repeal of a new state law that prohibits using public funds to communicate any information to voters in the 60 days prior to any local election. City leaders said state law already prohibited use of public money to advocate for support or rejection of a ballot proposal, millage issue or candidate election. But …

Gov. Rick Snyder launched his second term touting Detroit’s recent emergence from bankruptcy and a new way of structuring state government so Michigan’s downtrodden residents could join a “river of opportunity.” A year later, a real river — the Flint River — and the fallout from a water crisis in another impoverished city have marred the Republican’s image as a …

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week praised House Republicans for efforts to attain key goals during the first half of the 2015-16 legislative session. Miller said leadership stressed meeting objectives set by the House Republican Action Plan, a document unveiled in February with an unprecedented 78 goals set to continue Michigan’s comeback. At the half-way mark of the legislative session, …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and city manager Joe Bippus joined state Rep. Aaron Miller in Lansing last week to testify about tax fairness before the House Committee on Tax Policy. Lowry and Bippus said big stores should be subject to common-sense property tax rates so that municipal governments don’t have to cut their budgets to adjust to the lower …