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St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering announced Monday that she has filed her paperwork to run for election to the post for its four-year term starting in January. Ratering, a 52-year-old Park Township resident, was appointed to the position earlier this year, as she has stepped in for Phyllis Bainbridge. Bainbridge retired for health reasons, though her term doesn’t expire …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has issued an alert to residents in the area of Wilbur Road in Park Township. Earlier this month, a number of unlocked vehicles were entered and many items, including a GPS unit, cash and a cell phone accessory were stolen. In all cases where vehicles were entered, doors were left unlocked. The sheriff’s department …

Colon firefighters were called out to a house fire Monday afternoon on Willow Drive. One home was engulfed in flames, and strong winds sent flames to a neighboring home. Both houses sustained heavy damage. Firefighters were on scene for about 4 hours. The Colon Fire Department was assisted by Burr Oak, Leonidas, and Mendon. The Centreville Fire Department was dispatched …

Fire crews from White Pigeon and Constantine responded Friday afternoon to Mottville Township, where an abandoned house was on fire. The residence, on Riverside Drive, was already partially collapsed. A cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but fire officials said embers from a nearby burning leaf pile could have triggered the blaze. The structure was completely destroyed.

The National Weather Service says a slow-moving storm that damaged more than 100 homes in a rural southeastern Michigan community when a tornado touched down included at least one other tornado that caused damage.  No  serious injuries were reported and crews are expected to survey the damage Friday following Thursday’s storms.  Meteorologist Steven Freitag says Friday that the tornado that …

Two weeks after announcing the closing of its Sturgis supermarket, officials from the Miller’s Super Valu grocery store chain said the store’s last day in business is Sunday. LaGrange, Ind.-based Miller’s said a shrinking customer base contributed to the end of its 30-plus years in business in Sturgis. A gas station and convenience store in an outlot outside the east …

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education plans to further investigate whether it wishes to make the length of a board member’s term six years instead of four. The option of six years over four was made available after the state last year revised board of education elections to November of every even-numbered year. Sturgis school officials recently initiated discussions …

A sophomore on the Mendon Lady Hornets basketball team received state recognition this week. Brooke Howard was named to the Class C all-state honorable mention squad, as announced by the Michigan Associated Press. A point guard, Howard stands 5-foot-10 and was a key member of the team that claimed its second consecutive St. Joseph Valley League crown in the 2011-12 …

Less than a week after St. Joseph County Probate Court Judge Tom Shumaker announced his retirement, a third prospective successor has announced his candidacy for the post. Three Rivers attorney John Barnes, of Barnes Law Office, has announced his candidacy for the position. Barnes, who has been practicing law for 30 years, said his qualifications include thousands of probate, estate planning, …

St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender announced Monday that she plans to file her petitions to seek the office of clerk and register of deeds in 2013. The election for the newly combined offices is in November. Bender, 61, was hired into the clerk’s office in 1970 and has served as county clerk since 1991. She is completing her fifth, …