News

County Commission grants ballfield extension

The city of Sturgis last week was given an extension related to its work on a ballfield complex. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to the extension after city manager Mike Hughes explained an unforeseen delay: the city received just two bids on its original plan and both were in excess of the city’s budgeted …

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Man arrested on drug charges

A Benton Harbor man was arrested last week on drug-related offenses in the city of Three Rivers. Police were called Thursday to the Walmart parking lot in response to a complaint about a suspicious vehicle. Officers located the car and noticed the driver was inhaling air dusters. Officers attempted to interview but he was too impaired to talk rationally, according …

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White Pigeon Schools seek community input

Officials from White Pigeon Community Schools are seeking input from the community regarding the state of the district’s facilities and needs. The session, taking place at 6:30 tonight at the high school library, is being staged in advance of the district’s attempted renewal of a sinking-fund millage renewal in May. Superintendent Jon Keyer said input from the public is critical …

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Woman arrested on warrant, attacked officer

A 36-year-old Three Rivers woman was arrested last week on a warrant, but additional charges were leveled after she physically attacked an officer. According to a department media release, the woman was taken into custody Tuesday at the South Main Street Shell gas station on a warrant for fraud. Officers said the woman was wanted for passing counterfeit currency. About …

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Animal Control officer resigns

St. Joseph County Animal Control Officer Josh Shook announced he is resigning to take advantage of an employment opportunity elsewhere. During Wednesday’s meeting of the Animal Control Advisory Board, Shook said he was presented an opportunity that would put his family in a stronger place financially. Shook said it wasn’t a decision he made easily. Shook, who joined the department …

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White Pigeon village president attended final meeting

An icon in White Pigeon municipal government took part in his final village council meeting Wednesday. Dan Czajkowski was honored earlier in the evening for his 30 years as a village council member. He served the past 14 years as village president. With a two-year term to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners already secured and beginning in January, …

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Another boil water advisory for White Pigeon

White Pigeon village residents are being urged to boil their drinking water after an advisory was issued late Thursday afternoon. The notice was posted by St. Joseph County Emergency Services Director T.J. Baker. The order marks the second in White Pigeon this month. On Oct. 10, municipal officials cancelled a five-day boil-water advisory after a series of tests reported negative …

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Murder charges dropped in stabbing case

Murder charges against 37-year-old Jonathon Fleming of Sturgis have been dismissed by St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough. Fleming was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday. He had been charged in the Sept. 25 stabbing death of Christopher Calhoun, 39, of Sturgis. The two were involved in a fight near a home on Jacob Street in Sturgis when the stabbing …

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Commissioners hand out employee service awards

Sixteen county employees, led by District Court Judge Jeff Middleton, were recognized for their milestone employment anniversaries Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners staged its annual Employee Service Awards program at the onset of its meeting. Rather than the board chairman read the names of recipients, a new twist saw department heads handle that duty. Ten-year employees recognized …

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County commission hears park cost estimates

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will have to include a major budget allocation for the parks and recreation department in 2017. Cost estimates for a sanitary sewer and water project for Cade Lake Park and Campground were revealed during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Daniel Byam, project engineer from Jones Petrie Rafinski, told commissioners the bids range …

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