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St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring announced Tuesday tentative contract agreements have been reached with the county’s 10 different labor unions. Doehring said with two exceptions, annual raises of 2 percent will be given in each of the next three years. Meanwhile, corrections officers will receive 3 percent raises annually over the next 36 months while the command group for …

During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, commissioner Jared Hoffmaster said the five-county Southwest Michigan Solid Waste Consortium has been dissolved. He said St. Joseph County, however, will continue to keep its own Solid Waste Committee. On an unrelated note, Hoffmaster said the St. Joseph County Transportation Board is in need of members. The board meets the third Tuesday of the month. …

Sturgis commissioners are reviewing a plan calling for development of a trail on leased Michigan Southern Railway right-of-way. The proposed route would extend from west of Big Hill Road west to North Jefferson Street, then south to Chicago Road. Initially, the scope of work consists of preliminary design layout, final design, preparation of contractor requests for bids, evaluation of bids, …

The St. Joseph County United Way has stepped in to assist the family of a Centreville man and his young son who both died in a car crash last weekend. Director Kelly Hostetler said the agency has established a fund to aid the family of Phillip Parker with funeral expenses and other financial demands. Parker, age 30, and his 5-year-old …

A Florence Township resident will replace a long-time member of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. County commissioners Tuesday appointed David Miars to the six-year term, replacing David Allen. Allen had indicated he was ready to step down from the road commission board after completing a six-year term of his own. Miars, who is chairman of the county’s Public …

St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is appealing to businesses and individuals willing to help support its annual New Year’s Eve Free Ride Home program. The six-hour service starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 and is offered free of charge to New Year’s Eve revelers in St. Joseph County. CTA drivers will pick up and drop off a rider anywhere in …

A Colon business owner is giving a priceless gift to her 10 employees: two weeks of paid vacation. Dawn Furney, owner of Dawn’s Café, said the paid time off was part of a deal she made with her staff. Furney said she adopted a four-days-on, three-days-off work schedule and an hourly pay raise. In exchange, Furney modified the restaurant’s hours …

A Jones man was injured in a single-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 11:30 p.m. Monday to Bair Lake Street, near Wood Lake Road. Authorities said a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Adam Bistodeau, of Jones, left the roadway and struck a tree. Bistodeau was transported to Three …

Here I am Santa!  I am a big girl!  They call me Berta.  I am about two years old, spayed female, and current on my rabies.  I am house trained and friendly.  My docket number is 51413, at the St. Joseph County Animal Control Shelter located at 652 E. Main St., Centreville, MI.  Animal Control is open Monday – Friday, …

Three Branch County men and a Sturgis resident were arrested for allegedly stealing property from tornado-damaged homes and vehicles in Kentucky. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and police in Caldwell County, Ky., announced the arrests Friday. Cameron said Sevon Gowen, 25, of Sturgis, was charged with possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree …