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A few exceptions to St. Joseph County’s government hiring freeze were made Tuesday. At the request of Judge David Tomlinson, commissioners allowed for the hiring of a deputy probate register for probate court’s family division. The $60,000-a-year position has been vacant for a month and cannot be absorbed by existing staff, Tomlinson said. He said the family division has jurisdiction …

Thirteen people have been reappointed to the St. Joseph County Community Advisory Board. County commissioners on Tuesday approved the one-year terms that will expire Dec. 31. The members are: Jeff Middleton, Rob Pattison, Paul Stutesman, David Tomlinson, John McDonough, Kitty Buchner, Lisa Martin, Gina Wagner, Tom Miles, Eddie MacKay, Rose Ludwick, Gerald Loudenslager and Howard Bush.

Boy, it’s cold out here.  But I have a lot of energy to burn off.  I am about two years old, a mixed breed male.  I will need neuter surgery.  I am house-trained, very friendly and playful.  You are welcome to bring your children or other family dogs for a “meet and greet”! My docket number is 44420, at the …

An annual allocation to a three-county agency was approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. With unanimous support, commissioners agreed to quarterly payments totaling $307,700 to finance a portion of the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. The county also agreed to commit its annual $1 contribution to fulfill terms related to its building lease agreement with CHA …

County commissioner Allen Balog gave one, final attempt to revisit a matter related to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Balog made a motion to accept road commission chairman Dave Allen’s offer to step down and yield his seat to Rick Anderson. The issue dates to the county commission’s Jan. 2 …

A Sturgis woman was arrested on drug-related offenses earlier this week. Sturgis officers on routine patrol noticed a woman acting suspiciously shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of South Nottawa Street. After questioning the 37-year-old woman, officers found she was trespassing on private property. During the course of the investigation it was learned she was in possession …

A longstanding agreement was renewed Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners adopted the annual memorandum of agreement between the county and Michigan State University regarding extension programs and services for 2019. The agreement defines the programs, staffing and funding relationship between MSU and the two parties. The base assessment and additional staff total nearly $130,000. The …

A pole barn and its contents were destroyed by fire late Monday at Nissley Disposal. The blaze was reported around 9 p.m. Nissley is located in the 70000 block of South Centreville Road in Sturgis. At least five fire departments responded. Several explosions could be heard from up to a mile away, according to witnesses. An investigation is ongoing.

Republicans who control the Michigan Senate are making the reduction of auto insurance rates a top priority. The first bill introduced in the new two-year session could let older drivers use Medicare or other health insurance to cover their medical costs in an accident. Younger drivers could opt out of Michigan’s mandatory unlimited medical coverage and choose less coverage. The …

NEW YORK (AP) — Sears will live on— at least for now. The company’s chairman and largest shareholder and chairman, Eddie Lampert, won a bankruptcy auction for Sears in New York, averting liquidation of the iconic chain, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The person agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to …