News

The November unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by two-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 3.5 percent November unemployment rate was less than October’s 3.7 percent. November’s unemployment rate was nine-tenths of a percent less than the same month …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that took place last week at a seasonal residence in White Pigeon Township. Troopers responded around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 16000 block of Lake Street at Fish Lake, where the residence had been illegally entered and ransacked. A fair amount of damage was reported by the owner, who told authorities the incident …

A motorist pulling from a driveway in a southwestern Michigan retail strip has been killed after her vehicle was slammed into by another car fleeing police. Police said in a release that Kalamazoo officers tried to pull over a 17-year-old driver about 9 p.m. Saturday for a traffic violation. A police officer in Portage spotted the car about 15 minutes …

Three teenagers have been linked to a more than 45-case crime spree that includes theft, vandalism and property destruction in the Kalamazoo area. Police say a 13-year-old boy and 15-year-old boy from Kalamazoo and a 17-year-old male from Three Rivers were arrested Saturday afternoon after running from officers. Two other youths were detained and questioned by police. Two BB pistols …

Sixty-two percent of 811 applicants passed the Michigan bar exam for lawyers last summer. University of Michigan law school led the way with 33 of 36 graduates passing the July test, followed by Michigan State University at 76 percent, Wayne State University at 74 percent and University of Detroit-Mercy at 59 percent. Cooley law school had the most graduates taking …

A boil-water order has been issued for White Pigeon residents. A notice distributed to village residents Thursday indicated three of five recent samples tested positive for the presence of coliform bacteria. The baseline is no more than one positive test within a one-month period. Utility officials are collecting additional samples, working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, flushing the …

A Grand Rapids-based television station has released a segment on Daniel Furlong, the man who confessed to killing 11-year-old Jodi Parrack in 2007. Video of Furlong being interviewed by investigators and prosecutor John McDonough was obtained by WOOD-TV. It showed the 65-year-old Furlong describing how he sought Parrack’s help in his garage as she was biking home in November 2007 …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved resolutions centering on funding it will provide two agencies. The commission on Tuesday agreed to allocate more than $280,000 to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Meanwhile, commissioners also agreed to provide more than $250,000 to the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. Both funding …

A few personnel matters were approved during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Commissioners approved the hiring of Teresa Meade as Friend of the Court secretary. Her rate of pay is $14.38 an hour. Also, commissioners agreed to establish the position of office manager/document imaging coordinator. Finally, the resignation of telecommunicator Travis Helmer and termination of COA home care aide Sarah Yoder …

The first of what will likely be several public accolades bestowed upon Steve Todd occurred during this week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Todd, who is retiring next week following a career of more than 40 years with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, was the recipient of a resolution approved by the five-member commission Tuesday. Todd reflected …