News

St. Joseph County didn’t have to look far to find a new finance director. Angie Steinman, currently Cass County’s finance director and acting administrator, has been hired to replace Ryan Post, who resigned in December to take a position in Van Buren County. A Dowagiac resident and native, the 42-year-old Steinman will take over on Feb. 25. Steinman’s work history …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Board recently approved a three-year contract with Rebecca Burns, the agency’s health officer. The finance committee recommended the contract after an evaluation of Burns, who assumed the position in early 2016 from Steve Todd. After a closed-session review Dec. 13, the board approved a 2.6 percent base pay increase to $75,568 annually. After Burns fought for …

Utility companies began work this week on North Lakeview Avenue in Sturgis as part of a reconstruction project taking place this year. North Lakeview will be closed to thru traffic from Chicago Road to Main Street. The detour route is from Chicago Road onto North Prospect Street, to Main Street, then to North Lakeview. The utility work is part of the broader reconstruction …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week appointed a Sturgis resident to the county’s Transportation Authority Board. Elena Agvilar will complete a term that expires in April, as the position became available due to a health-related resignation. County board member Allen Balog said he and commissioner Kathy Pangle met with Agvilar, she interviewed extremely well and Balog said she …

Northern Indiana police say a home burglary suspect allegedly offered two homeowners who found him inside their house $200 not to call police. Thirty-one-year-old Casey Madden of Elkhart was charged last month in a September home burglary. He remains jailed at Elkhart County’s jail on burglary and other charges. Court documents say the homeowners returned home Sept. 30 to find …

The largest road project in several years in the Three Rivers area is poised to begin later this year. The US-131 reconstruction project has been divided into two segments, according to Nick Schirripa, spokesman for Michigan Department of Transportation. The expanded timeline, spring 2019 to fall 2020, will allow MDOT to do the work while minimizing traffic impact. This year’s …

Organizers behind the Three Rivers Water Festival have announced details regarding the 2019 event. The 63rd annual festival will start June 13 and conclude June 16. The theme for this year’s event is “TR’s Superheroes.” Water Festival Committee members encourage participants to incorporate a “superheroes” theme in their events. This year’s Water Festival Parade will open the celebration June 13, …

St. Joseph County Road Commission Board members are being asked for input into the concept of an ordinance related to all-terrain vehicles. At the behest of county commissioner Allen Balog, the matter was discussed at the road commission’s meeting last month. As a springboard to discussion on the idea, Balog brought for review a copy of Midland County’s ordinance. If …

A new, countywide calendar of human services was unveiled recently by the St. Joseph County Human Service Commission. The calendar enables users to search by town or countywide for events related to food and household, substance-abuse prevention, health and wellness, family/parenting, children/youth/teens, older adults and their caregivers, and more. The calendar will feature days and times of some of the …

Driving while holding a cellphone soon will be illegal in one southern Michigan city. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that a new ordinance goes into effect Friday in Battle Creek, but police don’t plan to ticket drivers — just yet — for typing, scrolling or talking on phones without the use of hands-free devices. City officials say enforcement will start …