St Joseph County

Wenzel wins election

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel will continue to serve the elected post through 2016 after voters during Tuesday’s primary election re-elected the Lake Templene resident by almost a 2-to-1 margin. Wenzel, who is completing his first, four-year term as drain commissioner, defeated Fabius Township resident David Hassenger, who previously served as drain commissioner for eight years before he …

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Some positions will be uncontested

Five of six positions with St. Joseph County government will be uncontested in today’s primary election. The office of drain commissioner will be decided by voters, as incumbent Jeff Wenzel is being challenged by former drain commissioner David Hassenger. Wenzel, a Lake Templene resident, is completing his first, four-year term. Hassenger, who lives in Fabius Township, held the post for …

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75th Abbott’s Magic Get-Together Successful

The 75th Abbott’s Magic Get-Together in Colon concluded Saturday, and organizers of the four-day celebration say the milestone celebration was an overwhelming success. Greg Bordner, president of Abbott’s Magic, said participants and spectators from seven countries and nearly 40 states took part in the celebration. Though the event is staged as a convention for performers in the world of magic …

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County administrator will resign

St. Joseph County Administrator Judy West-Wing has announced she will be resigning in January.  The 53-year-old West-Wing presented her letter of resignation during Friday morning’s executive committee meeting of the county board. West-Wing, a Flint-area native, has been county administrator for 20 of her 30 years of employment with St. Joseph County.  West-Wing said she wishes to spend more time with …

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Hit-and-run crash

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department Deputies are investigating a hit-and-run crasj that occurred last weekend in Florence Township. According to a department media release, the crash occurred Saturday evening in the 65000 block of Lutz Road, where a passenger car was making a right-hand turn into a driveway. Investigators said a 1980s model Chevrolet pickup struck the car. The …

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Federal economic-disaster loans

St. Joseph County Emergency Services Coordinator Jim Barnes has passed along information relevant to agriculture-related businesses that have suffered financially from this summer’s drought. Barnes noted that the U.S. Small Business Administration is making available federal economic-disaster loans to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives and other agriculture-related businesses in Michigan. St. Joseph County is one of 10 drought-stricken counties in the …

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Contracts settled for Sturgis schools

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education recently settled contracts with three work groups. Superintendent Tom Langdon said unions representing food-service workers, teachers, and employees in the custodian, maintenance and transportation field all agreed to a contract through the 2012-13 school year. Teachers will not be awarded a pay increase, though salary-step increases will remain in place. Employees in the …

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Duke, a puppy mill survivor

Meet Duke, a puppy mill survivor. Duke is a rescued four-year-old, blind Cocker Spaniel who is the product of a Missouri puppy mill. Duke was sold to unsuspecting owners who purchased him from a pet store at a cost in excess of $900. He had papers that were not registered with a recognized breed registry. The owner turned to Up-Cycled …

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Police investigating burglarized barn

The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a breaking-and-entering incident in the 63000 block of Youngs Prairie Road in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s officials said a pole barn was burglarized sometime between 9 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. Tools and hunting equipment were reported stolen.

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Green Star Award for lake-property owners

The Fabius Township Environmental and Wetlands Protection Advisory Committee has established the “Green Star” award to recognize Fabius Township lake-property owners who have developed exemplary natural lakefront shorelines. Natural landscaping for shorelines involves the use of native plants, which maintain the rural character of the area and protects property from erosion to benefit water quality. Qualified residents wishing to nominate …

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