Politics

Saying local voters were already set to oppose the state sales-tax increase request and were further dismayed by the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education, Lockport Township Clerk Wayne Timm said the township’s 1.4 mill increase request for a three-year period was likely doomed before voting even started Tuesday. The request failed by a vote of 380 opposed to …

A 3-mill, five-year sinking fund-millage request sought Tuesday by Burr Oak Community Schools failed by a 20-vote margin. Out of 202 votes cast, 111 rejected the proposal while 91 voted in favor. The relatively close result could prompt district officials to consider asking for a similar request later, according to Superintendent Terry Conklin. If approved, the request would have generated …

With nearly 1,000 votes cast, voters in the city of Sturgis Tuesday rejected a request to amend a city ordinance regarding the number of dogs kept on any premises in the city limits. Almost 15 percent of the city’s registered voters decided by a margin of 648 against and 294 in favor of changing the ordinance to not put a …

Michigan voters were asked Tuesday to increase the sales tax a penny to help raise $1.2 million for roads… and their answer to Proposal 1 was a resounding “no.”  Nearly 80-percent of voters voted “no” compared to just 20 percent that said “yes”. Despite the loss, Governor Rick Snyder says he plans to stay after the issue. He says he’s …

An Illinois man sustained serious injuries last weekend following an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in Colon Township. State police said Nicholas Leth, 25, of Palos Heights, Ill., was driving the four-wheel ATV on the ice-covered Palmer Lake at 5:10 p.m. Saturday when he lost control and it flipped over, landing on top of him. Leth sustained injuries to his …

In his 5th State of the State address on Tuesday night, Governor Rick Snyder called on the legislature to help create a “river of opportunity” for those who are struggling in Michigan. In addition, the governor proposed merging two state departments into one large department. The proposal would merge the Departments of Community Health and Human Services into one department …

A pair of legislators who collectively represented St. Joseph County for a full decade was honored by a panel of county officials this week. Former State Sen. Bruce Caswell and former State Rep. Matt Lori were acknowledged by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting. Resolutions honoring the pair were read by Commissioner Rick Shaffer and approved …

The most-tenured employee for St. Joseph County government announced Tuesday she plans to retire later this year. Clerk and register of deeds Pattie Bender issued a media release Tuesday, indicating her plan to retire June 30. The 64-year-old Bender joined the county in 1970 and became clerk in 1991, succeeding Beverly Burnham. A lifelong Centreville resident, Bender said she looks …

A ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for two state legislators will take place later this month in Centreville. The event will feature State Sen. John Proos and State Rep. Aaron Miller, as they began their terms Wednesday. Proos, a Berrien County resident, was re-elected to a four-year term in November, while Miller, who lives in Sherman Township, started a two-year stint replacing …

A tired Michigan Legislature had to meet all night and into the morning, until it gave approval to a proposal asking voters to increase the state sales tax by a penny to pay for better roads.  Under the package, most of the revenue would come from a one percent increase in the Michigan sales tax. Other revenue would come from …