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State Rep. Matt Lori was named by House Speaker Jase Bolger to Gov. Rick Snyder’s newly created Mental Health and Wellness Commission. The six-member commission will advise the Michigan Department of Community Health on strengthening the state’s mental-health system. Their advisory role includes considering the best solutions for education, public safety, veterans independence and service delivery. Lori, a Constantine-area resident …

A quarterly report from the Economic Development Corporation board chairman of Southwest Michigan First provided St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners detailed information about the three-month period that concluded at the end of December. Ken Jones, who attended the county’s executive committee meeting last week, said 28 consultations resulted in three company announcements, 202 new jobs created, 801 jobs retained …

Here’s a reminder that an awards presentation for White Pigeon’s snowman-making contest will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday at Wade Park. The event was slated to take place in early January, but was delayed until Jan. 20 and postponed again until Sunday due to weather not conducive to snowman making, said event organizer Shireen Cline. Cline said more than a …

St. Joseph County is expected to share an equalization director with Cass County. What will likely be the third position shared by the neighboring counties is expected to be approved Thursday by the Cass County Board of Commissioners. The five-member St. Joseph County Board unanimously endorsed the proposal Tuesday. Cass County administrator Louis Csokasy told St. Joseph County leaders the …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a plan to issue paychecks to county employees by direct deposit or through a payroll debit card only The measure will be implemented with the April 12 payday for the two-week pay period ending April 8. Finance director Joni Smith said no longer hand-delivering checks to employees will save staff in …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell was recognized as one of three recipients of an award bestowed by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Caswell, whose jurisdiction includes St. Joseph County, received the agency’s Silver Plow award last week in Lansing. The recognition is reserved for state lawmakers whose commitment to agriculture in 2012 ensures the ongoing success of the farming industry. The Silver …

State Rep. Matt Lori on Friday is sponsoring coffee hours in Dowagiac. Lori, a Constantine-area resident, will meet with residents at the Cass County Council on Aging in Front Street Crossing, 227 S. Front St. in Dowagiac from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Lori said the venue is an informal setting where he can provide a short legislative update and listen …

Michigan State Police at the Coldwater post have arrested a total of seven registered sex offenders who failed to verify their addresses during the last quarterly verification period. Sex offenders are required to verify addresses in accordance with the Registration Act. They face being charged with a high-court misdemeanor for failure to do so during the 15-day registration period. The …

Voters in the city of Sturgis will have an opportunity later this year to decide whether to support a financial request exclusively for road and sidewalk repairs. Members of the city council Wednesday voted to put a millage request proposal before city residents May 7. The question will give city officials an opportunity to dedicate a 3-mil, 10-year property tax …

Department of Public Works employees in Constantine spent two hours Wednesday repairing a water-main break. The faulty pipe was at the corner of Fifth and Washington streets. Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the pipe had leaked about 250,000 gallons per day over the past week and it was necessary to shut down the entire water system because the hole was …