News

July’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 1.7 percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 5.4 percent July unemployment rate marked an increase from June’s 3.7 percent. St. Joseph County was above the state unemployment average, which was 4.8 percent in July. The agency …

A 34-year-old Sturgis man was arrested after he attempted to leave Sturgis Bowl with a bartender’s tip jar. A pair of Sturgis officers was leaving a nearby restaurant at 9 p.m. Friday, when they observed two men chasing the suspect from the bowling alley. Officers then drove behind the business and cornered the suspect. The suspect resisted arrest, attempting to …

It’s the first day of the 2018-19 academic year for most St. Joseph County school districts. Three Rivers begins its year with a new superintendent, Ron Moag, while Sturgis also starts with first-year superintendent Art Ebert. Meanwhile, Mendon and Nottawa school districts will see Leasa Griffith and Jerome Wolff, respectively, begin their first full years as superintendent. Though he retired …

One person suffered serious injury in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday on U.S. 12 near Broadus Street in Sturgis Township. Michigan State Police said a minivan driven by a 38-year-old woman from Sturgis pulled out of Dairy Queen in front of a motorcycle that was eastbound on U.S. 12 and driven by a 38-year-old man from Fishers, Ind. The driver of …

St. Joseph County Association of Realtors has named Michelle Williams as 2018 Realtor of the Year. The award is given in recognition of outstanding leadership and service for the association, the community and the real-estate industry. Recipients were chosen and recognized locally and again at the annual Michigan Realtors Convention and Expo next month in Traverse City. Nominees are evaluated on …

Centreville Village Council on Monday tabled amendments to its weed ordinance and open-burning ordinance. Proposed changes to the weed ordinance include a stipulation that weeds must not grow higher than eight inches, and that an annual notification in the newspaper will serve as notice to property owners to keep weeds trimmed. Proposed changes in the open-burning ordinance include adding language …

Daniel Czajkowski was among the individuals honored at the 139th annual convention of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. Czajkowski, of White Pigeon, was recognized for 40 years of service to his profession. He is the owner of Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon, and co-owner of Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel in Three Rivers. Following a reception, Czajkowski was presented a …

White Pigeon Community Schools has reached an agreement to retain Jon Keyer as superintendent for the 2018-19 academic year. There is a caveat, however: Keyer will work just 120 days during the school year and his role as high school principal will be filled by a new hire, Todd Reynolds. In addition, associate superintendent Carrie Erlandson will retain her administrative …

A summary of the process through which John Lindsey was hired as road commission managing director was provided by road commission board chairman Dave Allen during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Allen said he is convinced the board hired the right person. The hiring process took a number of months and was described by Allen as open, methodical and transparent. Allen, …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners took care of a number of small matters Tuesday. First, commissioners accepted a secondary road patrol grant from the state. The $60,000 is $6,000 less than what the state awarded a year ago for 2018. The funding covers secondary road patrol by two deputies. Then, commissioners also approved an out-of-state travel request sought by …