News

Economists at the University of Michigan say the state’s economy will steadily move forward during the next two years after five years of solid growth. In their annual forecast, George Fulton and colleagues Joan Crary and Donald Grimes said the state will add more than 132,000 jobs during the next two years. The U-M economists predicted employment gains of 59,400 jobs …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to fill the vacancy of human resources director. Tuesday’s commission meeting was the last for Elishia Arver, 36, who is vacating the position to take a human resources job in the private sector with a company in Angola, Ind. A job description and salary range were not mentioned. …

A new manager for the St. Joseph County Road Commission is expected to be named before the end of the year. Commission board member Eric Shafer said three candidates from a field of 10 legitimate candidates were interviewed this week. The trio was narrowed to two finalists, with second interviews for the pair scheduled to take place in December. Shafer …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce has issued a media release alerting the public about a telephone scam in which a Three Rivers business is being fraudulently represented. A number of people are being called in St. Joseph County and being told use of their debit card is locked. The callers claim to be from Century Bank and Trust. …

A northern Indiana prosecutor is reviewing whether police officers acted properly when they fatally shot a man who they say pointed a gun at them while he was trying to flee.  State police investigators submitted their report this week to the Elkhart County prosecutor’s office about the September shooting that involved seven Elkhart city officers.  The shooting at an apartment …

Plans to develop a single point of entry into the St. Joseph County Courthouse moved forward Tuesday after a 3-1 vote by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Construction of the 1,400-square-foot addition would cost an estimated $250,000, while project architect Landmark Design Group of Grand Rapids would add another $17,500 cost to the proposed project. Drawings show the …

St. Joseph County officials this week agreed to the purchase of a parcel of land in the village of Centreville. The parcel is the former Frank Olney residence, at 635 E. Main St. and located directly east of the county sheriff’s department. Following brief discussion on the matter Tuesday, commissioners approved the purchase for $180,000. The sale is contingent on …

Deputies from the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Office investigated a breaking-and-entering incident earlier this week in Sherman Township. The department was called at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 25000 block of Featherstone Road, where a door to the residence was forced open. Two pistols and eight long guns were stolen from the residence.

Mendon’s Lady Hornets volleyball team saw their run to the state Class D final derailed Wednesday in Battle Creek. Going up against defending Class D champion Battle Creek St. Philip, the lady Hornets fell in three games to lose the match. St. Phil goes on to the Final Four bracket and takes on Waterford Friday afternoon. In a Class C …

A work session for the county’s 2015 fiscal year budget scheduled for today has been canceled. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, finance director Joni Smith said the proposed budget is in order and a public hearing on it will take place at the commission’s Dec. 2 meeting.