Politics

The Centreville Village Council is one person short after longtime trustee Christine Sheteron turned in her resignation this week. Sheteron, 44, submitted a letter Monday to the village council. In it, she indicated she has no interest in working for what she called a non-working and uncooperative body of elected officials and community members. Sheteron did not elaborate on specific …

A number of people were appointed or reappointed to various county boards Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to reappoint Dennis Bradley to the county’s Jury Board for a six-year term. Action by commissioners also will see the St. Joseph County Transportation Board served for two more years by Allen Balog, Charles Thompson, Joseph Haas, Aaron Cullifer, …

Two Sturgis residents asked members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners if they would be willing to meet one-on-one to discuss plans for a proposed senior center in Sturgis. Lois Ware and Bob Holt said they weren’t happy with the lack of answers during past meetings with representatives from the county’s Commission on Aging. They said the proposal …

The St. Joseph County Board of commissioners Tuesday postponed a work session slated to take place Monday with representatives from Holland-based 2 Fish Company, a marketing firm in line to potentially help the county promote itself to Chicago-area residents as a retirement destination. County officials agreed incoming administrator J. Patrick Yoder should be in attendance when the meeting takes place. …

Michigan had a tenth-of-a-percent gain in population from July 2011 to July 2012, according to U.S. Census data. Estimated figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Michigan will gain 6,559 new residents since July last year, pushing its population to more than 9.8 million. It would be Michigan’s first net increase since 2004. Locally, St. Joseph County is on …

Sturgis officials announced the city flag will be lowered in honor of Sue Bir’s service to the community. Bir, 56, died Wednesday at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was elected Precinct 2 commissioner in November 1989, and also served as vice mayor in 1996. City officials believe she was the first woman to preside over a …

A 52-year-old man from Canada was arrested in Lockport Township last week on a federal warrant. Anthony Sove  was arrested by the St. Joseph County Special Response Team at 7 a.m. March 1 at a residence in the 57000 block of Haines Road, according to authorities. Sove was deported after having been convicted of an aggravated felony offense, but illegally …

White Pigeon village officials declined to accept a bid on the community’s former municipal office and property. Instead of accepting the $12,500 offer from Joe Winkfine during a special meeting Tuesday, village council members decided to start a new round of sealed bidding. A deadline of 4 p.m. Thursday next week was set. Those opposed to Winkfine’s bid said they …

Here’s a reminder that the St. Joseph County MSU Extension is inviting elected officials and area farmers to an overnight agriculture and water tour of Central Wisconsin. Jon Zirkle, MSU Extension program director, said the tour offers stops at several locations to view vegetable, field crop and cranberry farms in an irrigated, sandy part of Wisconsin around Stevens Point. In …

State Rep. Matt Lori was recently presented with the “Champion for the Medically Underserved” award for his work to promote and protect quality health care for all Michigan residents. A Constantine-area resident, Lori received the award during the recent Michigan Primary Care Association’s legislative forum. Lori said he was honored to be recognized by the association. Lori, who also serves …