News

Members of the St. Joseph County’s Solid Waste Committee are asking residents to be mindful of an approaching date as they begin their spring cleaning in coming weeks. The agency’s twice-a-year collection of household hazardous waste, and recycling of electronics, tires paper and latex paint takes place April 23rd at the county fairgrounds. The event will take place 8 a.m. …

A quote for work related to the development of a septic system and restroom at Nottawa Park at Sand Lake was awarded last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. County administrator Pat Yoder said a $12,000 quote was received from Jones Petrie Rafinski of Elkhart for engineering services to complete the project and ready it for construction. …

Cass County’s E-911 Central Dispatch fielded a number of calls Thursday regarding structural damage caused by high winds. According to an agency media release, the dispatch center around 3:30 p.m. had received a number of calls from the village of Edwardsburg regarding several reports of downed trees. Many trees were uprooted, several homes received wind damage to shingles and siding, …

The Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee for State Police this week approved a $654 million budget that state Rep. Aaron Miller said improves public safety for all Michigan families. Miller, chair of the panel, said the budget includes funding for a state trooper school that will train 64 men and women to provide law enforcement across the state. The spending plan …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting an uptick in flu-like illness and other viruses. Agency health officer Rebecca Burns said the tri-county health department during February saw an increase in respiratory illnesses and gastro-intestinal illnesses, as well as other communicable diseases. According to Kim Wilhelm, prevention services director, it is typical for flu to peak in February and …

Three Rivers Middle School teachers and administrators were on full alert Wednesday, the day after a threat of violence was posted on a social media site. Superintendent Jean Logan said middle school principal Nikki Nash was made aware Tuesday night of a social-media posting by a student who threatened to commit an act of violence Wednesday. Logan said police were …

Sturgis city commissioners on Monday approved a $1.6 million agreement for St. Joseph County’s commitment to help fund a proposed $2 million softball complex. The move came six days after the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a motion to allocate the amount to the city toward development of the four-field complex on city-owned property on Lafayette Street, near …

Superintendents in St. Joseph County’s two largest school districts received good news Monday. In Three Rivers, Jean Logan’s contract was extended an additional year. As a result, her contract will expire in June 2018. Logan, 51, is in her second year as head of the 2,600-student district and is paid $120,000 a year. In addition, the Three Rivers board approved …

A utility trailer was discovered stolen from a Mendon Township location this week. State police said the 5-by-8-foot trailer was stolen from the 26000 block of M-60. The black, Tractor Supply-brand trailer is believed to have been stolen sometime in December 2015.

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael E. Dodge announced this week he will not be a candidate for re-election this year. Dodge will be leaving the post he has held since early 1982 due to mandatory retirement provisions in the Michigan constitution. According the state constitution, judges are no longer eligible for re-election once they reach age 70. Dodge has served …