News

A veteran officer with the Sturgis Police Department was announced the recipient of the fourth annual Mike Scott Investigator of the Year award. Patrolman Bill Lentz, who joined the Sturgis force in August 1987, was presented the award by Prosecutor John McDonough during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The 54-year-old Lentz was recognized for his role in …

The city of Sturgis has announced its final brush pickup for 2012 begins this week. City officials ask that any brush designated for pickup be placed in the terrace area for collection. Brush should not be placed beyond the curb in the street, as such a measure can be dangerous for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Collection crews ask that brush …

The White Pigeon Athletic Department has announced the district will celebrate the induction of its inaugural Hall of Fame class this weekend. Festivities will begin with a tailgate for members of the inaugural class and their families Friday before the school’s homecoming football game against Mendon. The inductees will be recognized during halftime of the varsity game. The fanfare wraps …

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation has established the Lucile Shafer Haring and Sheila J. Haring Scholarship Fund with a check for more than $140,000. The newly created fund will award scholarships to Three Rivers High School graduates who are pursuing a degree in education. The scholarship will be available in 2013 and will be renewable to qualified students up …

Police say a semi-truck hauling 41,000 pounds of meat has crashed on a southwestern Michigan exit ramp.  The crash happened early Wednesday on the ramp from southbound U.S. 131 to Interstate 94 in the Portage area.  Portage police say the driver had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.  The truck partially blocked the interchange as crews cleaned …

Three Rivers police early Monday arrested three people suspected of being involved in larceny and breaking-and-entering incidents. According to police, a caller to central dispatch indicated subjects were breaking into vehicles parked in the area of East Michigan Avenue and Water Street around 3 a.m. With the help of the department’s canine unit, officers discovered someone had broken into Riverside …

The St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee has announced the date for its fall hazardous waste cleanup event. After a successful collection in April, the agency will stage its annual fall event 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday, Oct. 6 at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. As it has in the past, the collection will allow St. Joseph County residents …

St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate experienced a 1.7 percent drop from July to August. According to the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, St. Joseph County’s August unemployment was 8 percent, down from 9.7 percent in July. The August figure is lower than Michigan’s statewide August unemployment rate of 9.2 percent and the county’s …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has named Christopher Bolt as the agency’s chief executive officer, engineer and manager. Bolt will hold the same positions with the Cass County Road Commission, a dual-role arrangement that started with his predecessor, Louis Csokasy. Bolt’s appointment was announced last week. He has been serving in the capacity on an interim basis since July, …

More than 100 people took part in an inaugural event last week that brought awareness to the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Pathfinder Center and its support of the Special Olympics. The Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run was staged Friday morning. The jog around Centreville started at the county fairgrounds and ended at Centreville High School’s track. Along the …