News

St. Joseph County commissioners voted Tuesday to allow the county’s Transportation Authority to place a millage-renewal request on the August ballot. The matter was broached a week earlier, when agency director Allen Balog appeared before county commissioners at their executive committee meeting and appraised the panel on the request. Balog said the request would be for a four-year renewal of …

An ambulance mutual-aid agreement between Sturgis and Three Rivers public safety departments – as well as a fee schedule for a soon-to-launch service in Sturgis – were approved last week by Sturgis City Commission. As part of the licensing process with the state for an ambulance service, Sturgis city officials needed to have a signed mutual aid agreement and intercept …

St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department Director Jaymes MacDonald said the agency has a busy summer on tap. Atop the list of projects is the extension of mountain-bike trails at Meyer Broadway Park. MacDonald said the purchase of a $75,000 trail dozer will allow for easy creation of the new trails. MacDonald said work will likely start by Memorial …

Here’s a reminder of dates and locations for the upcoming Fresh Food distributions in St. Joseph County. The next events take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Gateway Village Apartments in Sturgis; 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Mendon High School; 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Colon High School; and at 10 a.m. Saturday at The Huss Project in Three Rivers. …

A White Pigeon man was injured in a two-car crash last weekend in Cass County’s Milton Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 4:30 p.m. Saturday to a personal-injury crash on Redfield Street, west of Conrad Road. Investigators said 31-year-old Kyle Mays was traveling east on Redfield Street when he lost control of his vehicle due to ice …

Oliver Knuth, volunteer and events coordinator for the Kalamazoo Salvation Army, is seeking volunteers to assist with an upcoming project. Knuth said the agency has been working on some major building projects over the last few weeks. Van Tuinen Painting recently finished repainting the building and now River City Flooring is in the process of re-carpeting the building. Knuth said …

A Cass County man was charged with felony offenses following a multi-unit investigation. Robert Zakrewski, of Jones, was found guilty of four felony charges, Cass County court officials said. Zakrewski’s trial began Tuesday and he was convicted a day later of insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and lying and conspiracy to commit lying to a police officer. Testimony …

Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees last week approved Design Collaborative of Ft. Wayne as architect for a south campus renovation project. It was selected from a pool of seven candidates. Design Collaborative had previously conducted a facilities assessment for the college in 2018. Upcoming tasks will follow current work underway on the college’s north side, and will include …

Sheriff Mark Lillywhite wishes to remind residents that the department does not contact residents regarding fines they may owe. The statement was issued after Lillywhite said the sheriff’s office received reports Thursday from residents contacted by a scam artist using the department as a cover. The potential victims said they were told to come to the sheriff’s office and pay …

Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus said city clerk Stephen French has tendered his resignation. Bippus said French’s last day will be Friday. Bippus did not elaborate on the circumstances behind French’s resignation, noting only that he leaves Three Rivers on good terms. The position will be advertised online and through other avenues in hopes of attracting a strong roster …