Government

Constantine village manager Mark Honeysett has declined a raise offered by the village council. In lieu of the raise and at Honeysett’s request, funds will instead go toward a budget allocated to the village’s police cars. The village budgets $4,800 for such expenses, but with the increased cost of gas and with Honeysett’s request, the fund will increase to $5,400. …

Constantine village officials have passed a resolution to honor recently retired police Sgt. Robert Studabaker. Studabaker on Dec. 31 ended a career that exceeded 32 years with the Constantine Police Department. Village Manager Mark Honeysett, who was one of four chiefs under whom Studabaker served, said Studabaker maintained a level of competence and professionalism that benefitted the Constantine Police Department. …

White Pigeon village employees may be in line to receive a 3 percent raise, potentially their first pay increase in three years. Village President Dan Czajkowksi said the raises were included in the village’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget presented last week. Czajkowski said another matter that merits attention is the renovation of the village’s water tower. The exterior has been …

A day-long investigation Sunday led Sturgis Police to find and arrest a man who allegedly robbed the Admiral gas station on East Chicago Road around 5 a.m. Sunday. According to a department media release, police developed a suspect by using previous arrest warrant investigations from earlier in the month. The suspect, who had displayed a knife to the employee before …

The death of an elderly Sturgis woman is being investigated by crime scene officials from the Sturgis Police Department and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said police were summoned to assist emergency medical services personnel responding to a woman in cardiac arrest in the 700 block of Myrtle Street. The woman, whose name and age were not released …

Three Rivers Health CEO Bill Russell has unveiled a strategic plan for the hospital’s future. During the first of a series of town hall meetings, Russell last week said sustainability, quality, growth and people are critical areas on which the hospital will continue to focus. He elaborated on each area, backing up the merits of each. Russell, who also detailed …

A corrections officer from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was placed on administrative leave after he was arrested for allegedly stealing prescription drugs while on duty. A media release from the department said 12-year veteran Stephen Morris, 39, was charged with two counts of larceny following the alleged incident from the county jail Jan. 9. The case is being …

Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation will host an open house next week regarding the U.S. 131 Constantine bypass project. Set to take place next Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Constantine High School, the open house will allow the public to see the latest designs and plans related to the project, which state officials say will begin …

State Rep. Matt Lori issued a statement following Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State address Wednesday. Lori, 56, said he looks forward to working with Snyder to continue economic momentum and fostering a healthy economy in which more jobs can be created. The Constantine-area resident, who is beginning his third, two-year term, said legislators have achieved much in putting …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to hire Lindsay Howes as the county’s grant writer. Howes, who has most recently served as Three Rivers city clerk since 2007, was approved to the position Tuesday by the five-member commission. A 32-year-old Three Rivers resident, Howes will be paid $50,000 a year, with $30,000 of the salary paid by the …