News

A public hearing on the county’s 2016 fiscal-year budget highlights this afternoon’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Also on the agenda is the annual report from the Economic Development Corporation, and discussion and possible action regarding a labor agreement with the correction’s sergeant’s division of the Fraternal Order of Police. The meeting starts at 5 o’clock in the …

A Vandalia woman died in a house fire over the weekend in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said deputies were summoned shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday to the 61000 Block of Lewis Lake Road – four miles west of Jones – in response to a house fire. Upon arrival, deputies observed the house was fully engulfed by …

St. Joseph County’s nine public school districts will share a rebate in excess of $230,000 of 2014-15 unspent special-education reserves. St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, overseer of the county’s special education services for qualified people up to age 26, will pay the districts in three installments, according to superintendent Barb Marshall. The first payment was scheduled to take place …

Changes in school start times and bus routes are prompting a new traffic order for bus-loading and student pick-ups at Congress School in Sturgis. As a result, members of the Sturgis City Commission have approved a new traffic-control order that moves the school-bus loading zone from Walker Avenue to East Congress Street. Consequently, all remaining student pick-ups will occur on …

Members of the Three Rivers Water Festival Planning Committee are inviting anyone interested in helping organize the 2016 event to a special meeting this evening. The 60th annual community festival takes place June 16, 17 and 18, and event organizers are seeking input regarding ideas for a theme, activities and entertainment. Today’s meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Three …

Three Rivers Health Board of Trustees reported a net income of more than $145,000 for October and net income in excess of $314,000 for the year to date. The financial update was provided during the hospital’s recent board meeting. In addition, preparation continues for the 2016 operating and capital budgets, and the Studer Groups Leadership Evaluation Manager program continues on …

Sturgis city commissioners this month approved an agreement to sell electric power generated by the city’s diesel plant. Putting that power into the regional electric grid will generate an estimated $400,000 in payments to the city, municipal officials said. Commissioners also clarified and expanded language in a downtown business district zoning ordinance to allow for limited-purpose fencing. Masonry walls will …

Construction of the new Sturgis senior center is on track for an early-March move-in, according to St. Joseph County Commission On Aging officials. Furthermore, COA officials said there may be a buyer for the current Paul Cassault Center, the longtime Sturgis home of south-county senior services. Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, said the new site under construction on North Franks …

A committee to help design a proposed sports complex in the Three Rivers area was assembled earlier this month. Three Rivers municipal officials sought help from the River Country Recreational Authority to establish a committee, whose members would help plan the layout of the multi-field facility. The committee is comprised of Jim Stuck, Fred Beuter, Curt Penny, Mike Charvat, Lindsay …

The city of Sturgis has gone on record supporting four neighboring townships in calling for the St. Joseph County Road Commission to put a dedicated road- millage proposal before the county’s voters. Members of the Sturgis City Commission earlier this month agreed they will support an additional property tax to pay for local road construction and repair. A resolution endorsing …