Government

St. Joseph County Administrator Patrick Yoder has proposed the county board reduce its number of meetings from twice a month to once monthly. He is proposing the first Tuesday of the month; the current schedule calls for commissioners to meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Following last week’s commission meeting, Yoder said if the once-a-month meeting schedule …

Nearly 60 landowners between Sturgis and Coldwater have agreed to purchase about 16 miles of land to prevent it from becoming a rails-to-trails recreation path. The Indiana Northeastern Railroad was informed last week that adjacent landowners to its abandoned railroad bed have agreed to pool their money and make the property purchase. A group called Friends of the Tamarack Rail …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an incident during which a vehicle last week was found to be on fire in the 64000 block of Burr Oak Road in Burr Oak Township. Witnesses told investigators three people July 1 were seen fleeing from the van and tossing items into a nearby ditch. Upon closer inspection, officials found a …

A golf outing to benefit a Three Rivers police officer is scheduled to take place next week. Wednesday’s benefit will take place at Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville, to benefit T.J. Baker and his family. Baker, a past “Investigator of the Year” recipient by county prosecutor John McDonough, was diagnosed in May 2013 with a rare form of cancer. …

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 6 primary election is Monday. The August vote has relevance in Three Rivers, as three candidates are seeking an at-large post with the Three Rivers City Commission. The top two vote-getters will go on to face each other in the Nov. 5 general election. …

Officials from the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation announced the agency is accepting grant applications through the end of the month. Eligible applicants include schools, government entities, and other 501(c)3 organizations within the City of Three Rivers and surrounding townships.  Final grant awards will require 25 percent matching funds. Selected grant recipients will be notified by mid-August informing them the award amount …

White Pigeon Township officials are expecting a major infrastructure project to be completed by the end of the month. Supervisor Don Gloy said the $3.1 million project at the township’s sewage-treatment plant will result in new liners at both treatment lagoons. In addition, new flow valves were put in place and new aeration systems were installed atop the lagoons. Also, …

State Rep. Matt Lori last week announced a $400,000 Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant has been awarded to the village of Cassopolis for on-the-job training for 40 new employees at Postle Operating. Postle is a producer of aluminum products for recreational vehicles and is expanding the company’s production capabilities, which will create the jobs during the next two years. The …

The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County is seeking citizens at large to fill a pair of positions on its board. With the recent resignations of David Pueschel and Betty Massey, the 12-member panel is short two representatives. Pueschel’s term expires in March 2014 and Massey’s in March 2015. Prospective board members must be St. …

Two Indiana residents were arrested on drug-related charges following their arrest earlier this week in Constantine Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call around 2 a.m. Monday in the area of New England Road, where a blue pickup truck had been spotted in the area of a possible larceny attempt. Contact with the occupants was made …