Government

Proposed COA facility in Sturgis

A pair of St. Joseph County commissioners has asked Sturgis municipal officials to weigh in on the concept of a Commission on Aging facility in Sturgis. Commissioners John Dobberteen and Don Eaton approached city leaders this week and asked for input into the proposed concept. The COA has a fund balance of about $1.4 million and the county commissioners have …

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Man arrested after crash

Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell issued a media release Thursday, detailing an incident involving a motorcyclist involved in a crash after traveling in excess of 100 miles an hour. Campbell said a 47-year-old Vicksburg man was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail following Wednesday night’s pursuit involving area police agencies. The driver was stopped after 11 p.m. for erratic driving. During …

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Centreville looking for new president

The village of Centreville is looking for a new president to lead its village council. Barb Parker, a council member for 15 years – including the last seven as president – announced her resignation Monday. Parker said she was not planning to seek re-election later this year, but decided to resign for family and other reasons. Parker said she would …

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Woman cited for speeding

A 29-year-old Three Rivers woman was cited for speeding and driving with an expired license, following a single-vehicle accident at 2 a.m. Wednesday in Fabius Township. A media release from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department stated Jennifer Holmes drove off the roadway near Coon Hollow Road and Lakeshore Drive. Her vehicle struck a mailbox as the car left the …

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Police warning of scam

Michigan State Police at White Pigeon are warning residents to be aware of a driveway-paving scam that was unsuccessfully executed recently in White Pigeon Township. Investigators said a group of workers claiming to have excess asphalt from another job use a high-pressure tactic in hopes of scamming thousands of dollars from unwitting victims. A phony estimate is presented to potential …

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Early payoff for truck

Sturgis municipal officials have decided to pay off a $648,000 loan five years earlier than scheduled in order to save money on interest charges. City Manager Mike Hughes said the early payoff means the city will save $31,700 in interest from its loan with Century Bank and Trust. The original agreement called for equal payments over a 15-year period, starting …

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Manhole repairs Thursday

Manhole repairs to be performed by crews from the Michigan Department of Transportation Thursday will result in a lane closure in Three Rivers. MDOT said the closure will be on the southbound U.S. 131 Business Loop, between Hoffman and Adams streets. The agency anticipates the lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Unemployment rate drop

St. Joseph County saw a drop of four-tenths of a percent in its unemployment rate from February to March. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis, the county’s unemployment rate for March was 8.8 percent. The figure also marked a decrease from March 2011, when the county’s unemployment figure was an even 11 percent. St. Joseph …

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Road work in the county

The St. Joseph County Road Commission announced that it expects to finish work on one road project this morning and start repairs on another later this month. A job started Saturday at the railroad crossing on Muskrat Road, just east of U.S. 131 in Park Township, was slated to be finished this morning. Meanwhile, the commission said work will start …

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TR Fire upgrade to Class 4

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson said the department received word that its rating from the Insurance Services Office will be upgraded to a Class 4. Addressing members of the city commission earlier this week, Tomlinson said the one-step improvement means the fire-department insurance auditor noted the comprehensiveness of the department warranted the Class 4 designation. The upside for …

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