Politics

A three-year contract with St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch Unit was approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Effective Jan. 1, the contract covers 11 employees and will offer a 2 percent pay increase in each of the first two years, and a 3 percent wage improvement in the third year. Matters related to health insurance and …

With little fanfare, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved the county’s 2013 fiscal year budget. The $28.8 million budget goes into effect Jan. 1. It is more than $780,000 less than the 2012 fiscal-year budget, thanks in part to a lower-than-expected allocation sought by the St. Joseph County Road Commission. According to a breakdown of …

A few meetings in the area are slated to take place today. Sturgis Township’s Board of Trustees meets at 4 p.m., while the Three Rivers Planning Commission will assemble at 6:45 p.m. At 7 o’clock tonight, village councils in Centreville and Constantine are expected to begin their meetings.

The Michigan House on Wednesday approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Matt Lori that allows the Michigan Department of Community Health to use email to notify Medicaid providers of changes in policy. The House bill allows the DCH to email changes to the Michigan Medicaid Provider Manual instead of using the U.S. Postal Service, as currently required. Lori said the …

Supporters and opponents of a proposed non-motorized trail way made their feelings clear about a 20-mile stretch of abandoned railway between Sturgis and well into Branch County. The former Indiana Northeastern Railroad Co. route is being sought as a route for bicyclists, joggers and walkers. Residents who live adjacent to the rail bed, however, have cited lack of privacy and …

Kelly Hostetler, executive director for St. Joseph County United Way, has been appointed as St. Joseph County’s representative on the Department of Human Services Board of Directors for the state of Michigan. The three-year term started Nov. 1. DHS Director Maura Corrigan appoints members from county DHS boards to collaborate with the state DHS to focus on removing social disabilities …

Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners have denied a special-use permit requested by Verse By Verse Ministries for a public place of worship at a downtown location. The unanimous vote Tuesday went against a 4-1 recommendation yielded a week earlier by the city’s planning commission. Verse By Verse was hoping to establish a place of worship at 54 N. Main St., …

A public hearing for a special-use request sought by a church hoping to locate downtown tops today’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. The request, sought by Verse By Verse church, was recommended by the city’s planning commission last week and will now be fielded by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners for final approval. Also up for deliberation this evening is …

The Three Rivers City Commission has set a Nov. 30 deadline to accept citizen-interest forms for anyone interested in serving an 11-month term to the commission. Though the vacancy is in the city’s First District, the position is available at-large. The seat was vacated last week after Judith Gilchrist announced her resignation due to her impending move out of state. …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission nominated Kenneth Malone as mayor of the city for a second term. Monday’s action also saw Robert Hile continue his tenure as vice mayor, as chosen unanimously by fellow commissioners. Malone has been a commission member 7 1/2 years, while Hile joined 2 1/2 years ago. Meanwhile, Three Rivers City Commission members on Monday …