Government

Barring any major modifications in the next week and a half, St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners is expected to approve a 2015 fiscal year budget of almost $16.5 million. The proposed budget is 11.6 percent less than the 2014 budget, which is about $18.6 million. Finance director Joni Smith said three requests were made for new personnel in 2015, …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit, along with deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant Thursday in the 25000 block of U.S. 12 in White Pigeon Township. Methamphetamine and components used in the manufacturing of meth were located throughout the interior of the residence. According to a department media release, a number …

Two Sturgis residents were airlifted to Bronson Hospital following a two-vehicle collision Tuesday morning in the village of Centreville. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said a vehicle driven by a 31-year-old Sturgis man was westbound on East Main Street when his vehicle crossed the centerline and into the path of an eastbound garbage truck at Industrial Drive. The incident …

Three personnel matters were approved during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Kelly Stapert has been hired as part-time Commission on Aging in-home services assistant at $11.79 an hour. Nancy Franovich has been hired as part-time Victim Services clerk at $11.73 an hour. In addition, Glenn Dane has been hired as Commission on Aging sub driver at $9.27 …

An annual event that will observe its 30-year anniversary next year in St. Joseph County was promoted during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Colon resident Nancy Percival addressed commissioners regarding the Community Action-sponsored Walk For Warmth. The fundraiser’s biggest annual event takes place Feb. 28 at the Three Rivers Community Center. Percival said funds raised through the one-mile walk provide assistance …

Nearly 1,400 new direct and indirect jobs, and more than $37 million in new investment were a few of the economic benefits provided to St. Joseph County through Southwest Michigan First in 2014. The highlights, detailed during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting, were presented by Ken Jones of Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First. Through the first 11 months …

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said charges will not be authorized against a pair of Three Rivers Police officers involved in a conflict in September. Fitz was dealt the case due to a conflict of interest because the people involved are law-enforcement officers. The two were a part of a dispute that unfolded Sept. 29 outside a residence in rural …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners agreed to extension services provided by Michigan State University for 2015. Reached during Tuesday’s commission meeting, the agreement calls for the funding of one full-time extension educator and two part-time 4-H program coordinators. The services will cost the county more than $118,000. In an unrelated matter, Three Rivers resident Lee Zimmerman was appointed to …

A Sturgis police officer has pleaded not guilty on charges stemming from a traffic crash last month in Kalamazoo County. Bryan Stuck, 29, entered the plea Wednesday at an arraignment in Kalamazoo. His attorney, David Butler, entered the plea of not guilty on charges of operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.17 or higher and driving while …

Colon Police Chief Mark Brinkert has issued a media release indicating a telephone scam is being reported by a number of village and Colon-area residents. The perpetrator making the calls claims to be from Consumers Energy and says the recipient of the phone call is delinquent in their payment. The caller then threatens that power to the residence will be discontinued unless they …