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The St. Joseph County United Way gave away approximately 60 Thanksgiving food baskets to local families in need. According to Kelly Hostetler, executive director for St. Joseph County United Way, the food giveaway started with a $500 donation from the Department of Health and Human Services board of directors. It then snowballed into $2,000 worth of food, she said, including …

St. Joseph County’s proposed 2016 fiscal year budget reflects a 2.3 percent decrease from its 2015 adjusted amended budget. In advance of the county’s new fiscal year starting Jan. 1, members of the county’s board of commissioners staged a public hearing Tuesday on the proposed $16.5 million general-fund budget. The proposed budget is less than the 2015 adjusted amended budget, …

Sturgis utility customers are receiving telephone calls from scam artists claiming to be from GenPower and Consumers Energy, stating they have been contracted by the city to collect for nonpayment, city officials said. The electric department has not contracted outside services from either company to collect non-payment. The city also would never request credit card payments over the phone, officials …

Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor returned to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday and made a familiar appeal. Making his fourth appearance in three months before the commission, Evilsizor urged commissioners to consider earmarking $1.5 million to reconstruct a stretch of Constantine Road. He said the timing of his request is by design, as commissioners are poised to …

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education has a new member, following board action during a special meeting Monday. Emily Halling was named to the position, which opened last month after David Hamlin resigned. Halling’s term will last at least until the general election in November 2016. Halling attended Sturgis Public Schools, served as a permanent substitute teacher in the district …

Parking will be prohibited on North Street from Chicago Road to West Street in Sturgis for the next three months due to utility construction. City officials said intermittent street closures are expected on North Street during that period, as well. Also, North Clay Street will be closed from Chicago Road to West Street beginning today. The closure is expected to …

By now, everyone probably has had their fill of turkey sandwiches along with all the other goodies that go along with Thanksgiving. If you did any traveling over the holiday, you should be home safe and sound. We always dine out for Thanksgiving, so we don’t have the privilege of going to the refrigerator and preparing a leftover meal. We …

The trio of Three Rivers school board members targeted for a recall has appealed a vote taken two weeks ago by the St. Joseph County Election Commission. On the final day for which the appeal could be filed, Diana DeGraaf, Pete Bennett and Erin Nowak submitted Monday the necessary paperwork to county clerk Lindsay Oswald. They are appealing a Nov. …

A Jackson County judge Monday dismissed a series of claims, filed by the board that oversees the County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County, against the county commission. During an hour-long hearing in Jackson County Circuit Court, Judge Robert LaFlamme granted a motion for summary disposition. The move essentially means a victory for the county …

Officials from the utility Indiana Michigan Power said public access to a popular fishing area in Mottville Township will be restricted until next year. Company spokeswoman Erica Putt said the tail-water fishing area on the west side of the St. Joseph River – accessible off North River Road – will be closed temporarily starting today for substation construction. The area …