Recent Posts

I&M Breaks Ground on Solar Facility, Announces IM Solar Program

Indiana Michigan Power broke ground today (October 26, 2015) on its second solar generation facility and also launched IM Solar, a program that enables Indiana customers to use local solar power without the expense of installing their own system. The Twin Branch Solar Facility, northeast of Mishawaka in a commercial/industrial area, will have nearly 29,000 solar panels and a generation …

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Changes made after 2 state police dogs died in patrol car

The windows on certain Michigan State Police cars automatically roll down in high temperatures, one of the key changes after two dogs died of heat stroke in Livingston County in 2013, the department said. Michigan State Police publicly confirmed the deaths this week — more than two years later — in response to a WDIV-TV report about a lawsuit related …

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K-Wings winless in four games to start the season

The Kalamazoo Wings are winless in their first four games of the season. After dropping a 5-2 decision to the Toledo Walleye at home on Friday night, the K-Wings found themselves on the short end of a 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday night. On Friday, the K-Wings received goals from Tyler Shattock and Alex Mallet. The Walleye …

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Sheriff’s department overseeing animal control

St. Joseph County’s animal control director position is being overseen by the sheriff’s department while a search for a successor to Tom Miller continues. Two matters related to animal control took place during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. First, commissioners endorsed a request to fill the position of animal control officer/facility supervisor. Later, it was announced that longtime employee Brooke Bingaman …

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Transportation bills head to Senate

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week voted in favor of a $1.2 billion legislative package to fix Michigan’s transportation system, including a bill he introduced that increases the use of competitive bidding for local road and bridge projects. Miller said House Bill 4610 expands the use of competitive bidding to keep the costs of road and bridge repair more affordable …

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Commissioners accept bid for Cade Lake Park work

An Elkhart-based company was selected Tuesday to lead a sewer infrastructure project at a county park in Fawn River Township. Commissioners accepted the lowest of three bids, which was submitted by C&E Excavating for almost $104,000. County administrator Pat Yoder said he will have a meeting next week with company officials to go over the full scope of the project. …

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Investigation continues into 2 homocides

Police are releasing no new information about two murders that occurred late this summer in St. Joseph County, but officials continue to investigate the two separate homicides. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough this week said police are awaiting results from the Michigan State Police crime lab regarding evidence collected at both scenes. About 4 a.m. Aug. 31, the body …

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Benefit magic show at Colon Elementary

Colon Elementary School will be the location of a benefit magic show Saturday. Five acts over the course of an hour will take part in the fourth annual “Sharing the Magic” event, which will help address a critical need at the Colon Food Pantry. Event organizer Rick Fisher said admission to the show is a box or can of a …

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Commissioners acknowledge milestone anniversaries

Twenty-three people were recognized Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for their milestone anniversaries as county employees. Leading the group was former clerk Pattie Bender, acknowledged for 45 years of employment before she retired June 30. Next was deputy county clerk Sandy Bowen for 40 years, followed by victim services coordinator Linda Baker for three decades of …

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Michigan officials urge poultry owners to watch for bird flu

State officials are urging Michigan’s poultry owners to watch for signs of bird flu during the fall migration season. Migrating birds carry diseases that could spread to poultry operations if the wild birds mingle with domestic ones. Poultry across much of the nation was hit with a bird flu virus this past spring, one of the biggest animal health disasters …

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