News

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to continue an early-retirement incentive for most county employees. Commissioners approved the concept Tuesday, keeping in place an offer initiated last year. Five county employees out of 19 eligible accepted the offer in 2017. As they were last year, requirements to qualify for the offer include stipulations that the employee is vested …

Thomas Hagerman was recently appointed to the Centreville village council, filling the seat left vacant by the Sept. 5 passing of council member Steve Quake. Both Hagerman and Brandy Lynn Eckert had submitted citizen interest forms. However, the council decided to go with Hagerman as Eckert is running unopposed in November’s election. Hagerman said it is more than likely he will …

Century Bank and Trust recently presented a check for $1,636 to Domestic And Sexual Abuse Services, headquartered in Three Rivers. Bank employees in St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale counties pay to wear jeans on Fridays, then each quarter choose a different organization to receive those funds. DASAS provides a safe place for survivors and their children, and its staff and volunteers …

St. Joseph County commissioners plan to pursue a grant that will allow the director of veterans services to increase his weekly workload. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners OK’d a motion to apply for the funding through the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Separate grants of $15,000 and $25,000 will be sought. If approved, the funding would allow Stoney Summey, the county’s director …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff ’s Department is investigating a recent break-in at Flowerfield Baptist Church. Authorities said suspects entered the church by breaking out a basement window. They then went through multiple areas of the building and desk drawers. An expandable, leather briefcase and numerous items from the church were taken.

A vacant home in the 70000 block of Green Pastures Road in Sturgis Township was damaged by fire Monday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the home shortly before 5 p.m. and found light smoke coming from the roof. Investigators are continuing to research the cause, though officials said the blaze appears to have started in the basement.

Organizers of the annual Palmer Lake Flotilla have announced the theme of the 13th annual event, slated to take place July 6 next year. “Through the Decades” will provide participants the opportunity to choose a decade and decorate their boat around an event or overall theme representing that particular decade, said Tim Taylor, long-time organizer and Commodore of the lake …

A Dowagiac man died Monday after the motorcycle he was driving left the road at a high rate of speed and crashed into a tree in Cass County’s Pokagon Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said the driver fled from officers with the Dowagiac Police Department, who called off their pursuit of the motorcycle due to the speed at which the motorcycle …

State police are investigating the theft of a purse and use of stolen credit cards. According to a department media release, troopers were called around 1 p.m. Sept. 16 to the Withers Road bridge at the St. Joseph River in Constantine Township. The victim told police she parked her car alongside the road, and then went for a kayak ride. …

A Sturgis man has been nominated by President Donald Trump to represent the United States on the International Joint Commission between the U.S. and Canada. Rob Sisson said the IJC was created in 1909 through the Boundary Waters Treaty with Canada. It is a six-person commission comprised of three representatives from the United States and three from Canada. The mission of the …