St Joseph County

The White Pigeon Township Board of Trustees approved its 2013-14 fiscal year budget this week. The five-member board Tuesday approved its $455,000 budget, which is less than its budget one year earlier. Clerk David Girton said projected expenses from the general fund are $221,467, while expenses from the township’s fire department and cemetery fund are expected to be $177,300 and …

St. Joseph County officials have agreed to move forward with the idea of promoting St. Joseph County to the Chicago region. During a work session that included all five county commissioners Wednesday, county administrator Pat Yoder said he will work with officials from 2 Fish marketing and look at steps toward developing a concrete plan. Commissioner Don Eaton, a leading …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has revived its Honor Guard, county commissioner Rick Shaffer announced this week. During commissioner comments at the conclusion of Tuesday’ meeting, Shaffer said the five-person team will be called upon to serve at funerals for dignitaries, retired or current police officers, or fire department personnel. Shaffer said the quintet is comprised of active sheriff’s …

A Sturgis resident will be asked to clean his Klinger Lake property of construction debris and concrete blocks, following an order to be imposed by White Pigeon Township officials. With more than two dozen people attending Tuesday’s township board meeting, Supervisor Don Gloy said he will ask that Eric Pierson removes the items from his Klinger Lake Road property. In …

An 18-year-old Sturgis woman was cited for failure to yield the right of way following a two-vehicle accident Saturday in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Katelyn Johnson was driving on Banker Street when she proceeded to cross Balk Road. Sixty-two-year-old Charles Hudson of Sturgis was driving north on Balk Road and had the right of way; …

Sturgis Public Schools athletics director Mark Adams said the district is expressing an interest in joining the Wolverine Conference athletic league. Although the concept is in its infancy, Adams said Sturgis is aware the conference is interested in adding at least one other team, with the impending departure of Comstock. A Wolverine Conference meeting is expected to take place next …

The city of Three Rivers has given special thanks to American Electric Power – Indiana Michigan Power – for its contribution to the Scidmore Park Petting Zoo Saturday programming. The city notified AEP of the community’s desire to continue quality educational programming at no cost to the public through its Saturday summer programs at the zoo. AEP is partnering with …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn is a finalist for the superintendent’s position with Portage Public Schools. Rathburn, who has been planning to retire from Three Rivers a year from now, is one of a trio of candidates for the Portage post currently held in an interim basis by Rob Olsen. Portage school officials have indicated first-round interviews will …

Fifty-five marijuana plants and equipment used to cultivate marijuana were removed over the weekend from a residence in Colon Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said officers patrolling the area around 9 p.m. Saturday noticed the smell of marijuana and traced the odor to a residence in the 32000 block of Custer Road. During a consensual search of the …

About 100 pounds of debris was removed from the Prairie River Saturday, thanks to the efforts of 10 volunteers. The St. Joseph County Conservation District on Saturday started the third year of its five-year campaign to clean all 150 miles of the county’s rivers. A 4.7-mile stretch of the Prairie River – from Hoshel Road to Lutz Road in Lockport Township …