News

A Colon man was was found incompetent to help in his own defense in the murder of a 55-year-old Colon man. On Jan. 28, St. Joseph County District Judge Jeff Middleton received a report from the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti, and on Wednesday held a competency hearing for Ethan Dingman, 19. Dingman is accused of murder in …

A motorist has been killed in northwestern Indiana after a car was struck by a stolen SUV whose driver was fleeing police. State police say a trooper attempted to pull over the SUV about 7:30 p.m. Friday after seeing it travel about 99 mph near the Elkhart and St. Joseph county line. Other officers joined the pursuit and as they …

Members of the Constantine Village Council have reviewed details about an ordinance proposal for recreational marijuana. The council on Monday reviewed comments made Jan. 20 by Portage attorney Catherine Kaufman regarding a draft for the new ordinance. Village Manager Mark Honeysett asked the council to continue reviewing the draft, and pass along input in hopes the final draft could be …

Three requests for an exception to the hiring freeze were approved by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved a request by sheriff Jason Bingaman for animal control support assistant. The $47,000 position will become vacant in six weeks and involves licensing, kennel management, data entry and other duties. Commissioners also approved a …

Two wells in Mendon have tested positive for PFAS at higher than screening levels, according to Paul Andriaachi, director of environmental health at Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Andriaachi said it is safe to drink the water, though further investigation is underway and more samples will be taken. He said 10 wells were sampled Jan. 3, including four just outside …

A longtime St. Joseph County resident with deep involvement in local government has announced his candidacy for the 59th House District seat. Allen Balog, former mayor of Three Rivers and currently the longest-serving member of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, announced Tuesday he will seek the state post held by term-limited Aaron Miller. Balog, 63, said he has …

St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald issued a media release Monday, explaining a situation involving presidential primary ballots in Florence Township. Oswald said the ballots were delivered Jan. 21 to Florence Township Clerk Allissa Bowers at her residence, which is her official office because of its accessibility to the Internet. The county clerk’s office was notified Jan. 29 that the …

On the heels of two ceremonies last Friday, St. Joseph County’s 11-year sheriff Brad Balk was recognized by members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, who approved a proclamation in his honor during their meeting Tuesday. Read by longtime friend and board chairman Dennis Allen, the proclamation cited Balk’s start as a road patrol deputy – Allen paused …

A Fabius Township storage facility was burglarized within the past week. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 14000 block of M-60 in response to a breaking-and-entering situation. Investigators found that the suspects forced entry to the facility as well as several storage units. The incident occurred between Friday last week and Monday this week.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently awarded 20 Rural Development Fund Grants statewide, including one to a community in St. Joseph County. The grants are designed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities. MDARD Director Gary McDowell said funds will be helping to develop or support everything from infrastructure and …