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Portage officials are considering property tax breaks for a $465 million expansion project by Pfizer Inc. The company is seeking the tax exemption from the city of Portage a two-story, 400,000-square-foot sterile processing facility. MLive.com reports Pfizer has told the city the project will lead to 140 additional jobs within two years and 450 jobs within six years. Portage Mayor Patricia Randall …

At one time, there were municipalities where your vehicle had to have a village or city sticker displayed on a corner of your windshield. In order to be issued a sticker, your vehicle had to pass a safety inspection. The inspection included having a working horn, headlights that weren’t broken or burned out, a working license plate light, and tires …

Three Rivers Health has announced that Anne Pearcy is its employee of the year for 2017. During its recent employee celebration, Three Rivers Health welcomed nearly 200 guests for dinner and the special-recognition ceremony honoring employees observing milestone years of service. Pearcy said she considered the accolade shocking and a huge honor. Out of 20 employees earning quarterly honors throughout …

State Rep. Aaron Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the subcommittee has advanced a budget plan prioritizing funds to strengthen public safety throughout Michigan. The proposed budget includes a $1 million grant to help prevent sexual assaults on college campuses; $200,000 to support improved software within Michigan’s Advanced 911 system; and $5.5 million for a …

Glen Oaks Community College had a 7.3 percent increase in student headcount and a 10.1 percent increase in credit hours as enrollment numbers are finalized for the winter 2018 semester compared to a year ago. It represents an upward trend for the sixth straight semester. Glen Oaks president David Devier said the school’s overall enrollment is 1,232 students this semester. …

Employees at DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto seed-corn companies in Constantine recently held a competition to see which could collect the most items for the food pantry at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine. In the end, Monsanto collected the most items: 3,380 pounds versus 1,468 pounds collected by Pioneer. It is the fourth year for the competition. Food pantry director Sue Outman …

St. Joseph County’s largest school district has secured its new superintendent. Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education last week announced it plans to begin contract negotiations with Arthur Ebert. He replaces Tom Langdon, who announced last year he would be retiring at the end of March. Ebert over the past three years has served as deputy superintendent and executive director …

Three Rivers Community Schools will continue its search for a permanent superintendent by interviewing four candidates. The district last week reviewed a slate of 18 candidates before narrowing its choices to four. They are: Spencer Byrd, superintendent of Meridian School District in the southern tip of Illinois; Jeff Rehlander, superintendent at Gobles Public Schools in Van Buren County; Ron Moag, …

A 17-year-old Three Rivers resident was arraigned last week after he allegedly committed a crime while in possession of a firearm March 18. Austin Palmer appeared in District Court on a charge of armed robbery after he attempted to leave the Three Rivers Menards without paying for an energy drink. When confronted by store security, Palmer allegedly displayed a handgun, …

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was six-tenths of a percent higher than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.3 percent January unemployment rate marked an increase from December’s 3.7 percent. St. Joseph County was below the state unemployment average, which was 5.3 percent in January. …