County Information

A Mendon man has been appointed to a county committee. During Tuesday’s 12-minute meeting, St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners agreed to appoint Mendon resident Ivin Riddle to the Department of Health and Human Services Board. He was recommended to the post by Kelly Hostetler, St. Joseph County United Way’s executive director. Commissioners on Tuesday also adopted the county treasurer’s …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners has approved an agreement with the city of Sturgis regarding a disc golf course. The contract, endorsed by commissioners Tuesday, centers on a plan to develop an 18-hole disc golf course at Cade Lake County Park in Fawn River Township. The city of Sturgis is working with the county and financially supporting the recreational …

The Exchange Club of Sturgis presented its 75th Book of Golden Deeds Award to Frank Iannarelli during a recent meeting at Sturges-Young Auditorium. The award is the highest recognition given by the Exchange Club. Iannarelli, who works at Locey CPA, is president of Sturgis Lion’s Club, advisor to the Sturgis High School Leo Club, Sherman Township clerk, president of Omena …

The Cass County sheriff’s department is continuing to investigate a traffic accident that occurred over the weekend. Authorities said Jared Green, 34, of Dowagiac, was a passenger in a vehicle that went off the road and struck a tree Saturday evening. Green was not wearing a seatbelt; a second passenger in the vehicle was uninjured. Investigators said the driver of …

Students at Riverside Elementary School in Constantine raised more than $800 through a penny drive to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The penny drive ran for five weeks, concluding in late January, and was organized by fourth-grade teacher Carolyn Niblock. She said the accomplishment shows that school is not only about education, but life skills, too. Niblock said …

Warrants are being sought for a number of suspects following the discovery of a large-scale marijuana operation last week in Cass County’s Ontwa Township. Members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team served a search warrant on an address in the 71000 block of Stateline Road on the suspicion that the illegal sale and use of marijuana was taking place. …

St. Joseph County United Way and matching local donors recently awarded a special grant to four local schools for the purchase of Nightlocks. Nightlock is a classroom-door-lockdown mechanism that allows a teacher to immediately lock the door from inside the classroom. It is fast, easy and withstands 1,500 pounds of force. On a conventional classroom door, an intruder can break …

Sturgis City commissioners last week approved a draft of a recreation facility agreement with St. Joseph County to partner for development of a disc golf course at Cade Lake Park. The city will be responsible for the material costs for development, and the county will install and construct, then own and operate, the course. The agreement commits the city for …

St. Joseph County’s attempt to shore up its financial state resulted in just one courthouse layoff. Other positions eyed for cuts, however, were changed from full-time to part-time. In addition, another employee whose job was likely to be eliminated resigned and found work elsewhere. County administrator Teresa Doehring said the layoff and reduction in hours were part of an effort …

The eighth consecutive year of the St. Joseph County Conservation District’s River Cleanup will see more than 25 miles of waterways covered this summer. Six events beginning in June and ending in early August will await conservation district employees and what director Carolyn Grace hopes is a strong number of volunteers. The six dates in 2018 begin June 2 over …