Politics

Sturgis city commissioners recently voted to repeal Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act, saying the 2011 law took away local government’s ability to regulate consumer fireworks. The law liberalized fireworks sales in the state and limited local governments’ oversight authority. Following the latest July 4 holiday, commissioners had complained about widespread use of loud pyrotechnics in Sturgis neighborhoods, claiming it created a …

Nearly two dozen local officials, including State Rep. Aaron Miller and State Sen. John Proos, took part Tuesday in a tour of the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority headquarters as well as a ride-along. Officials from the CTA said the first-of-its-kind event was staged to help promote the services it offers countywide. The group, which featured representation from Sturgis police, …

Michigan officials reacted cautiously Monday to the Obama administration’s plan for cutting planet-warming gases from power plants, saying they needed time to study how it would affect the state’s economy and electricity rates. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a 32 percent reduction in carbon dioxide from power plants by 2030. In Michigan, that would mean a cut from …

Sturgis voters will decide Nov. 3 whether residents of single-family homes will be able to have three dogs at their residence. Members of the city commission last week approved language for a possible dog-ordinance amendment and have sent it to St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald. If voters approve the amendment, owning three dogs within the city limits will require …

Former Michigan lawmaker Harry Gast, a straight-talking Republican who served for 32 years and led the state Senate’s budget panel his final 18 years in the Capitol, died Thursday. He was 94. The farmer from St. Joseph was respected for delivering budget news bluntly to legislators and telling them what they did not always want to hear. He served in …

A legislative update from State Rep. Aaron Miller was the highlight of Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Miller, a first-term legislature from Sherman Township, said the senate plan for road funding was the biggest bit of news he had to offer. He said $400 million in federal funds was allocated for the state’s transportation fund for the …

A representative from the group TR Cares turned in petition language for the recall of three members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education. Sherrie Nowicki on Monday submitted to county clerk Pattie Bender the petition language regarding board president Mike Bosma, vice president Waneta Truckey and secretary Carl Barth. A fourth member, Dave Kutz, was to be …

The first child for State Rep. Aaron Miller and his wife, Alex, was born at 1:02 a.m. Friday at Sturgis Hospital. Jael Tonya weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces, and measured 19 3/4 inches. She is the first grandchild on both sides of the family Miller, who turns 28 next month, said he was in session Wednesday. With his cell …

A Mendon Township woman who heads the St. Joseph County Conservation District Board has called her four-day, 60-mile walk around St. Joseph County a success. Carol Higgins, who embarked Wednesday on the journey and finished Saturday at Colon Community Park, said she staged the event to bring awareness and potential funding to local conservation causes spearheaded by the Centreville-based agency. …

Calling the timing of Tuesday’s request “very, very poor,” Three Rivers Community Schools’ Board of Education President Mike Bosma said it came as no surprise to him that the district’s request Tuesday for approval of a 1.95 mill sinking-fund request was defeated. Tuesday’s vote came less than a week after the board agreed to not renew the contracts of three …