News

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is scheduled to begin its inaugural Christmas tree sale today. The agency’s first-time event, which organizers said will serve as a fundraiser, begins at 9 a.m. today at the conservation district office. It is located on the south side of East Main Street, across from Yoder’s Country market. Conservation district intern Hunter Stanke said …

Members of the Constantine Village Council last week approved a parks and recreation five-year plan to improve facilities between 2016 and 2020. Village officials said strengths throughout the village’s 38 acres of parks are good maintenance, water access, open space and large trees. A lack of developed facilities was cited as the village park system’s biggest flaw. Several ideas mentioned …

A Sturgis woman was appointed to a county panel last week. Members of the county commission Tuesday agreed to select Jenny Sue Fair to replace Dennis Bradley on the St. Joseph County Jury Board. Bradley recently resigned from the post. Fair’s term will expire April 30, 2019.

Daniel Furlong, the one-time Constantine resident accused of killing 11-year-old Jodi Parrack in 2007, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The development took place Thursday before circuit court Judge Paul Stutesman. In exchange for his plea, the 65-year-old Furlong will not be charged with other crimes in the Parrack case or offenses related to a July incident in White Pigeon …

A Three Rivers man was sentenced to at least 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting children in a daycare at his girlfriend’s residence in Three Rivers. Cary Jones, 47, was found guilty last month of six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting children for immoral purposes. Investigators began looking into the case in January …

No children were injured after a school bus was rear-ended Thursday morning in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 6:50 a.m. to the intersection of M-66 and Wait Road, where a Sturgis Public Schools bus was struck from behind by a pickup. The pickup was driven by a 53-year-old East Leroy man, according to deputies. A department media release …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week made an amendment to the 2015 annual apportionment report. In a memo to the five-member commission, equalization director Tony Meyaard said Burr Oak School District Nov. 3 successfully passed a ballot issue to levy a sinking-fund millage of 3 mills. Meyaard noted because the election took place after the …

The St. Joseph County Election Commission ruled Wednesday that wording in petitions to recall a trio of Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members showed sufficient clarity in stating the reasons for the attempted recall of Diana DeGraaf, Pete Bennett and Erin Nowak. At the conclusion of the 20-minute session at the county courthouse, commission chair and probate judge …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners approved nine personnel matters Tuesday. Joshua Simmons was hired as deputy equalization director at a rate of $55,000 a year. Also hired were Valerie Casterline as deputy county clerk/elections specialist at $17 an hour, and Melissa Patch, who was brought aboard as a part-time deputy register of deeds at a rate of $14 an …

Ken Malone last week was reappointed to the seat of mayor, following action by the Sturgis City Commission. Meanwhile, Robert Hile will serve another term as the city’s vice mayor. Commissioner Charles Huber initially nominated Hile for the mayor’s post. But after Hile declined the nomination, a unanimous ballot was cast for Malone. Malone has served as mayor since 2011 …