Business

Organizers of Saturday’s fourth annual Mendon Fall Fest stayed optimistic throughout the day despite bouts of rain that crippled attendance at the five-hour, one-day event. Jennifer Hayward, chair of the Fall Fest Committee, said with rain already in the forecast, intermittent showers were not a surprise. Still, Hayward said, the small crowd that did attend enjoyed free food, games and …

A two-car accident Monday afternoon east of Centreville resulted in a local woman and two children seeking medical treatment. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’ Department, a 31-year-old Sturgis woman was driving east on M-86 when her vehicle was struck by an 80-year-old White Pigeon woman shortly after 3 p.m. The White Pigeon woman was attempting to turn west …

The city of Three Rivers and Three Rivers Community Schools both landed a handsome windfall Tuesday from St. Joseph County’s largest employer. During a ceremonial check presentation at Three Rivers-based American Axle & Manufacturing, Mayor Tom Lowry was given $400,000 from American Axle officials. The city will retain $300,000 of the amount, while the $100,000 balance was earmarked for the …

A Centreville hair salon is in the midst of its second annual “Passion for Pink” fundraiser for breast-cancer research. X-treme Hair Lengths is offering a pink feather, hair strand or extension for $15, and pink hair chalking, nail polish or ribbon decal for $5. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society for breast-cancer research. The salon in its …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority set a record the most rides in its 10-year history during the agency’s 2011-12 fiscal year. Executive Director Steve Yorks said nearly 95,000 rides were given during the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30. The latest figure represented a 7 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, when a then-record of more than 88,500 …

Mike King, owner of the Weenie Kings push-cart hot dog stand, was given approval to serve as a vendor at two upcoming events on county property. King, a Three Rivers businessman, will be at Cade Lake for this weekend’s Halloween-theme activities, and at Meyer Broadway Park Oct. 14 for the Three Rivers Fall Color Tour. Approval for King’s concessions was …

The seventh annual Project Connect, staged Wednesday over a six-hour period in Centreville, drew more than 350 people, event organizers announced. Staff from more than 50 local agencies, businesses and services were on hand to help St. Joseph County residents with a variety of needs. Organized by the St. Joseph County Human Services Commission, Project Connect took place at Firm …

St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate experienced a 1.7 percent drop from July to August. According to the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, St. Joseph County’s August unemployment was 8 percent, down from 9.7 percent in July. The August figure is lower than Michigan’s statewide August unemployment rate of 9.2 percent and the county’s …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has named Christopher Bolt as the agency’s chief executive officer, engineer and manager. Bolt will hold the same positions with the Cass County Road Commission, a dual-role arrangement that started with his predecessor, Louis Csokasy. Bolt’s appointment was announced last week. He has been serving in the capacity on an interim basis since July, …

Officials responsible for a $1.3 billion pipeline project in Indiana and Michigan said a staging area in Mendon Township has received all of its 110 miles of pipe, concluding a major component of the undertaking. Joe Martucci, Enbridge spokesman for the so-called 6B Replacement Project, said the 72-foot-long steel pipes have been shipped since July from a railroad site in …