News

Fugitive arrested in Three Rivers

Three Rivers officers arrested a wanted fugitive last week outside a residence near the intersection of 9th and River streets. According to a department media release, the department received a tip about the location of Nathaniel Poole. He was wanted in connection to charges of first-degree home invasion and felonious assault. The St. Joseph County Special Response Team obtained a …

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Agreement with grant writer approved

An agreement between St. Joseph County and grant writer James Hissong was approved Tuesday. Hissong, who works in a part-time capacity for the county and a few of its communities, recently obtained a Limited Liability Company. According to county administrator Teresa Doehring, it is in the best interest of the county and Hissong to change his employment relationship from employee …

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Family reimbursed for loss of rabbits

St. Joseph County commissioners agreed to reimburse a Colon Township family for its loss of 15 4-H rabbits. The matter was approved Tuesday at the request of Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite. According to a staff memo, Lillywhite said the incident occurred last month and likely involved either stray dogs or a coyote. Restitution of $300 was made in accordance with statute; …

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County commission approves federal grant

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a federal grant to support Adult Drug Treatment Court. During Tuesday’s commission meeting, the board OK’d $145,000 to Community Corrections/Circuit Court. The Justice Assistance Grant is awarded through the State Court Administrative Office and is reimbursement for money the county had already allocated from its coffers.

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Mendon man killed in I-94 crash

A Mendon man died in a two-semi crash which happened at 1am Thursday on westbound I-94, west of 11 Mile Road, in Calhoun County’s Emmett Township. State police say the lead semi, driven by a 40-year-old male from Bellville, MI was merging onto I-94 westbound from the 11 Mile entrance ramp when it was struck from behind by another west …

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Cause of fire that destroyed structure still undetermined

The cause of a fire that destroyed Nissley Disposal in Sturgis Monday is undetermined but not considered suspicious, according to officials. Authorities believe the fire began on the east side of the building, possibly in the wash bay area. The blaze was reported around 9 p.m. Monday and the building was fully engulfed when the first fire crews arrived. Lost …

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Exceptions made to hiring freeze

A few exceptions to St. Joseph County’s government hiring freeze were made Tuesday. At the request of Judge David Tomlinson, commissioners allowed for the hiring of a deputy probate register for probate court’s family division. The $60,000-a-year position has been vacant for a month and cannot be absorbed by existing staff, Tomlinson said. He said the family division has jurisdiction …

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Members reappointed to Community Advisory Board

Thirteen people have been reappointed to the St. Joseph County Community Advisory Board. County commissioners on Tuesday approved the one-year terms that will expire Dec. 31. The members are: Jeff Middleton, Rob Pattison, Paul Stutesman, David Tomlinson, John McDonough, Kitty Buchner, Lisa Martin, Gina Wagner, Tom Miles, Eddie MacKay, Rose Ludwick, Gerald Loudenslager and Howard Bush.

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County commission approves payments for CHA

An annual allocation to a three-county agency was approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. With unanimous support, commissioners agreed to quarterly payments totaling $307,700 to finance a portion of the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. The county also agreed to commit its annual $1 contribution to fulfill terms related to its building lease agreement with CHA …

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Motion to accept road commission chair offer dies

County commissioner Allen Balog gave one, final attempt to revisit a matter related to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Balog made a motion to accept road commission chairman Dave Allen’s offer to step down and yield his seat to Rick Anderson. The issue dates to the county commission’s Jan. 2 …

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