Politics

County officials are awaiting word from County Commissioner Jerry Ware regarding a potential recount, as the Fawn River Township resident fell short in his bid for re-election by just eight votes Tuesday. In his attempt to serve what will be a new-look District 5 in January, Ware lost to Sturgis resident John Dobberteen, 395 to 387. Both are incumbents on …

The fields of judge candidates for Probate Court and District Court were narrowed to two after Tuesday’s primary election. After claiming the first and second-most votes from a field of five candidates, David Tomlinson of Colon and Christine Yancey of Mendon will square off for St. Joseph County Probate judge in November. Meanwhile, a roster of three candidates for District …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel will continue to serve the elected post through 2016 after voters during Tuesday’s primary election re-elected the Lake Templene resident by almost a 2-to-1 margin. Wenzel, who is completing his first, four-year term as drain commissioner, defeated Fabius Township resident David Hassenger, who previously served as drain commissioner for eight years before he …

Five of six positions with St. Joseph County government will be uncontested in today’s primary election. The office of drain commissioner will be decided by voters, as incumbent Jeff Wenzel is being challenged by former drain commissioner David Hassenger. Wenzel, a Lake Templene resident, is completing his first, four-year term. Hassenger, who lives in Fabius Township, held the post for …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging (COA) has approved a new, five-year lease with the City of Three Rivers for the Three Rivers Community Center. The Community Center, located at 103 South Douglas Avenue, has been the headquarters for the COA in recent years and that will continue until at least 2017 with authorization given last week (July 18) …

The Three Rivers City Commission dealt with a variety of items during a relatively brief regular meeting last week (July 17) The session included three public hearings during which there were no citizen comments. In each case, the commission approved the issue at hand. Specifically, commissioners: • approved a Special Exception Use Permit for a Massage Establishment and Day Spa …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today released a report on the committee’s activities from the 2nd quarter of the 2nd Session of the 112th Congress. The report, the sixth such quarterly report that has been issued by Upton, was delivered to members of the committee and offers highlights of …

St. Joseph County is one of 26 counties in Michigan to receive funding for enhanced law-enforcement patrol specifically targeting drunken drivers. The additional enforcement has been in place since last weekend and will continue through Sunday. The Michigan Office of Highway Planning has provided the funding to cover the cost of additional state police patrols.

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has set a deadline of Thursday for citizen-interest forms from anyone in District 2 wishing to join the commission through the end of the year. Commissioners decided last week to set the deadline, as they have less than three weeks to fill the seat vacated by 20-year Commissioner Gerald Loudenslager, who resigned to take …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Gerald Loudenslager resigned from his elected position Friday, ending his 20-year membership to the seven-member panel. Shortly after tendering his resignation, the 67-year-old Loudenslager was then sworn in as the new supervisor of Nottawa Township. The Nottawa Township post became available after his son, Kurt, stepped down as township supervisor for health-related reasons. Loudenslager had already …