News

April’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 30.3 percent, as every county in the state experienced an increase during what was the first full month of jobs impacted by COVID-19. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which showed the county’s jump in unemployment, was released Friday. St. Joseph County was above the …

Michigan Department of Transportation has provided a weekly update on its work related to the U.S. 131 redevelopment project. MDOT said Stage 5 traffic pattern continues, with all traffic using a single lane in the southbound side of the highway. Some utility relocation through the length of the project will continue this week. Meanwhile, West Michigan Avenue paving is complete …

The identities of a victim and suspect involved in a May 21 incident in Three Rivers have been released by Three Rivers Police. Det. Sam Smallcombe said 59-year-old James May of Three Rivers died during the incident. The suspect was 21-year-old Mohammad Abuhaltam, also a Three Rivers resident. Police were called at 9:43 a.m. to the 300 block of Middle …

The Three Rivers Water Festival is taking the year off for the first time in its 64-year history. Festival committee members made the decision Friday, according to Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Christy Trammell. She said the ever-changing situation regarding Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her executive orders related to COVID-19 made it impossible to plan and …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hinted Friday that she will soon reopen more regions of Michigan, expressing optimism as long as the rate of new coronavirus cases continues downward and testing increases. She did not specify when she may act, alluding to an announcement on additional areas in “coming days.” Her administration will discuss the issue internally Saturday. The governor’s stay-at-home order …

It appears St. Joseph County in 2020 will levy the same millage rates as it did last year. Equalization director Josh Simmons told commissioners during their executive committee meeting Wednesday that the county’s total millage rate of 7.8782 mills for 2020 remains unchanged from 2019. Simmons said commissioners will need to approve the millage rates during their board meeting Tuesday …

A Community Corrections Grant application for 2021 fiscal year will likely be approved by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners next week. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners heard a report from Rose Ludwick regarding the seven areas – including Day Reporting Center and pre-trial assessments – that benefit from the annual grant. Ludwick said the funding request is …

An offer to house veterans in need of emergency housing was presented to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners during their executive committee Wednesday. Veterans administrator Stoney Summey said the department is in the process of opening a house that belongs to St. John’s Church in Sturgis. Summey explained the church contacted him regarding a potential use for the …

An agreement for Medical Examiner services for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021 was discussed Wednesday during the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting. County clerk Lindsay Oswald said cost of the service, provided by Western Michigan University, has consistently gone up about 2 percent a year, and the current draft – likely to be …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission will start its Colon Township roundabout project Monday. As a result, the intersection of Colon Road and Farrand Road will be closed to traffic for approximately two months. Traffic going east to west will be detoured using M-86 to M-66. Meanwhjle, north-south traffic will be detoured through town, M-86 to Swonk Road then Stowell …