News

The Michigan Court of Appeals has rejected a lawsuit and ordered a minimum wage initiative on the November statewide ballot. The court ruled 2-1 Wednesday. The One Fair Wage proposal would gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour and also increase the minimum for workers who make tips. The state elections board last month had split 2-2 …

The long-awaited renovation of the St. Joseph County courts building could be a step closer to reality. During last week’s executive committee meeting, county administrator Teresa Doehring said a team of three architects from Grand Rapids-based Tower Pinkster met with her earlier this month and toured the courts building and the historic courthouse. The next step, she said, is for …

The process to begin assembling St. Joseph County’s 2019 fiscal-year budget is underway. County administrator Teresa Doehring said department managers have provided her and finance director Ryan Post their five-year, capital-request wish lists, as a starting point. The county’s next fiscal year begins Jan. 1. In addition, Doehring at last week’s executive committee meeting, said the process of negotiations regarding …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners earlier this month approved a resolution accepting a DNR Trust Fund grant. The move covers $166,500 for acquisition of a 52-acre parcel, along the St. Joseph River in Fabius Township. The land owners provided $58,500 to fulfill the local-match obligation. The property is known as the Kettles Preserve. County officials said it is …

A Berrien County company has been approved to provide a maintenance program to St. Joseph County’s courthouse. During the board’s Aug. 7 meeting, commissioners agreed to an $8,800 annual contract with City Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. Based in St. Joseph, the company will provide a customized professional maintenance program that will include an inventory of equipment and air-filter service. …

A 36-year-old Three Rivers woman is being held at the St. Joseph County jail after police say she attempted to flee from officers late Wednesday last week. Police attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Melissa Jo Alvarado for a registration violation on U.S. 131 near U.S. 12 about 10 p.m. Alvarado drove north on U.S. 131 before her vehicle …

A 59-year-old man who attacked and cut a 38-year-old man last week in Centreville has been arrested. Around 5:30 p.m. Friday, St. Joseph County sheriff’s deputies were called to Keystone Place, 505 E. Market St., after a man reportedly had been stabbed. Deputies arrived and found the man responsible for the assault. He was tased and arrested. The victim received minor …

A 25-year-old man from Clinton County died after the single-engine plane he was flying crashed over the weekend in Branch County’s Bethel Township, east of Bronson. State police said Phillip Ching, of Elsie, was crop dusting a field near Kosmerick and South Snow Prairie roads when the plane went down around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses told police the plane was …

The computer lab at Sturgis Missionary Church, which has hosted a once-a-week opportunity for computer help, will be temporarily closed until the fall, church officials said. The service, which was offered Friday mornings, assisted anyone who needed help applying for services, housing, online job applications or to print materials. Church officials said the public will be notified when the service …

A Dowagiac man was injured in a one-vehicle crash over the weekend in Cass County’s Marcellus Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday to investigate a personal-injury crash on Marcellus Highway. Investigators said Shawn Jones, 46, was traveling west on Marcellus Highway and lost control of his vehicle. It ran off the roadway and …