WLKM Radio 95.9 FM

Some positive news related to Michigan State University was yielded during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Julie Pioch, MSU Extension’s District 13 coordinator, provided commissioners with the agency’s annual report covering 2017. She said it was a year of great programming with outstanding work taking place. Pioch’s annual report elaborated on a number …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted at its January meeting to support the St. Joseph County 911 in an upcoming millage-increase request. Slated to appear before voters in May, the agency is seeking to increase its existing millage from three-quarters of a mill to one full mill. The proposed one-quarter-of-a-mill increase will allow for technology …

Scientists at Chicago’s Field Museum are studying a piece of the meteor that broke apart earlier this month over Michigan. The meteorite, the size of a peach pit, arrived Wednesday. NASA scientists say the 6-foot-wide meteor broke apart about 20 miles over Earth on Jan. 16. It created a bright light and what sounded like thunder in the sky. Museum …

A one-year agreement approved by county leaders will continue the services provided by Anthony Meyaard in the capacity of equalization director. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 16 passed a resolution in support of Meyaard’s employment. The resolution detailed a number of deadlines relevant to the role that Meyaard must meet throughout the year. According to terms …

A Marcellus man was airlifted from the scene of a one-vehicle accident earlier this week in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday to a car-versus-tree incident on Lawrence Road, near Marcellus Highway. The driver, 23-year-old Terance Hartzell, was driving south on Lawrence Road when he swerved his car to avoid …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has joined his colleagues in the Michigan House to approve legislation giving Michigan residents, including families and seniors, broader income-tax relief. The legislation continues and increases the personal exemption ceiling for Michigan taxpayers and their dependents on their state income taxes. Other bills in the package provide additional tax alleviation for senior citizens in the form …

In recent columns, I’ve given a lot of attention to keeping and disposing of important papers and documents. Everyone carries some very important things with them all the time. I’m referring to your driver’s license, health insurance card and, of course, credit cards. These items are usually kept in a wallet or purse, both of which can easily be lost …

A Vandalia woman was injured after her car struck a tree last week in Porter Township. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded at 11:40 a.m. Thursday to a single-vehicle accident on Robbins Lake Road, near Sears Road. The driver of the vehicle, 82-year-old Margaret Warren, was traveling north when her vehicle ran off the roadway for an undisclosed …

The cost to secure vital records from St. Joseph County has gone up. Effective Jan. 17, the expense to secure a vital record – in most cases a birth, death or marriage certificate – rose from $13 to $15 for the first record, and from $4 to $5 for each additional record. At the recommendation of county administrator Teresa Doehring, …

A matter related to citizen comments at St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meetings was at the center of a reaction expressed by commissioner Dan Czajkowski earlier this month. Constantine resident Rebecca Shank has persistently asked commissioners to restore the “citizen comment” option toward the end of the board’s twice-a-month meetings. The second opportunity was removed from the board’s meeting …