Politics

An election of officers resulted in no change on the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County board. During the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday, it was agreed that Barb Parker will remain chairperson, Robin Baker as vice-chair, Ronnie Atkins as secretary and Gaylene Adams serving in the capacity of citizen-at-large. In a separate matter, the board …

State Rep. Matt Lori voted in favor of a budget plan supported by both Republicans and an Independent lawmaker that cuts government waste and prioritizes funding for public safety, roads and schools. Lori, R-Constantine, joined a majority of his colleagues in voting Wednesday in favor of House Bills 4228 and 4328, the Fiscal Year 2014 House budget recommendation. Lori, who …

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a request for a new supervisor position at Central Dispatch, as sought by its director, Jon Uribe. Uribe on Tuesday explained the new position is for the day shift, which has been operating without a supervisor. He said the measure would create an additional position, but a current telecommunicator …

A slate of annual reports tops the agenda for today’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Reports on tap today will center on the Friend of Court, Circuit Court, County Clerk, Juvenile Court and District Court. In addition, commissioners will review and consider renewing law-enforcement agreements between the sheriff’s department and separate contracts for exclusive patrol arrangements with Fabius …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District received confirmation of its annual allocation for river clean-up projects. Provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission, the $2,750 grant awarded to the Centreville-based organization will allow it to fund transportation and materials necessary during seven river and river bank clean-up events this summer. The first is slated …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission have agreed to place a resolution for the sale of city-owned property on file for 30 days. The property in question is a western portion of the former Essex Wire property on Fourth Street. Union City-based Dove Ag Services is hoping to gain approval for a truck-loading facility and …

A number of St. Joseph County residents expressed concerns over a variety of subjects during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The focus of most comments revolved around potential plans to build a senior center in Sturgis and a proposal to market St. Joseph County as a retirement destination to retirees in the Chicago market. Points were made …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry said he plans to seek a second two-year term to the city’s highest elected post. Following Tuesday’s city commission meeting, Lowry said he took out a petition earlier in the day to begin the process of appearing on the November ballot. He will need to secure a minimum number of signatures from registered voters before …

Three Rivers Police Chief Tom Bringman will instruct officers to beef up enforcement of parking violations around Hoppin Elementary School when classes resume next week. Concern about the issue was raised Tuesday by Three Rivers City Commissioner Daryl Griffith, who said illegally parked cars pose a risk to children who walk home from school or to waiting cars parked legally …

Pat Yoder’s first St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday was a quick but uneventful experience. Yoder, who took over as county administrator Monday, sat in on his first county commission meeting in 20 years, as he previously held the position from 1990 to 1994. The 63-year-old Yoder was hired for the job after Judy West-Wing retired in January. …