Politics

Members of the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging have agreed to urge the county’s board of commissioners to move forward with plans for a proposed senior center in Sturgis. During their meeting last week, COA board members discussed the proposed Sturgis location and agreed it is needed as a replacement for the current facility on North Jefferson Street. County …

White Pigeon Police Chief Lynn Baker has signed a contract with the village to continue his services with the municipality. The contract includes a privacy clause, which essentially limits details regarding terms of Baker’s employment. Police chief in White Pigeon since 1995, Baker previously worked under a handshake agreement, but village officials agreed a formal contract should be in place …

Larry Matson was appointed by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners to the Three Rivers City Commission Tuesday. Matson, 67, served on the board from May through October last year to fill a term left vacant by the resignation of Ken Baker. Matson was topped by Diane Haley-Clay in November’s election for a one-year term as District 3 representative. Matson, who …

An audit report of its 2012 fiscal year was the primary matter of business Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Dave Fisher, representing Jackson-based Rehmann CPA, said based on his company’s review, the county remains on solid financial ground. He noted the county’s largest operating fund had revenue in excess of $13.6 million last fiscal year. Its …

St. Joseph County Administrator Patrick Yoder has proposed the county board reduce its number of meetings from twice a month to once monthly. He is proposing the first Tuesday of the month; the current schedule calls for commissioners to meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Following last week’s commission meeting, Yoder said if the once-a-month meeting schedule …

Nearly 60 landowners between Sturgis and Coldwater have agreed to purchase about 16 miles of land to prevent it from becoming a rails-to-trails recreation path. The Indiana Northeastern Railroad was informed last week that adjacent landowners to its abandoned railroad bed have agreed to pool their money and make the property purchase. A group called Friends of the Tamarack Rail …

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 6 primary election is Monday. The August vote has relevance in Three Rivers, as three candidates are seeking an at-large post with the Three Rivers City Commission. The top two vote-getters will go on to face each other in the Nov. 5 general election. …

Officials from the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation announced the agency is accepting grant applications through the end of the month. Eligible applicants include schools, government entities, and other 501(c)3 organizations within the City of Three Rivers and surrounding townships.  Final grant awards will require 25 percent matching funds. Selected grant recipients will be notified by mid-August informing them the award amount …

The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County is seeking citizens at large to fill a pair of positions on its board. With the recent resignations of David Pueschel and Betty Massey, the 12-member panel is short two representatives. Pueschel’s term expires in March 2014 and Massey’s in March 2015. Prospective board members must be St. …

A structural overhaul of St. Joseph County’s 40-year-old courts building or the possibility of a new courts building altogether could be options raised following a study of the building. Added on to the south end of the original courthouse in 1974, the courts building will be analyzed by a Benton Harbor firm to offer its input on the issue. County …