Business

The right-hand, westbound lane of U.S.-12 in and around the Sturgis diesel electric plant next to Memorial Park will be closed the rest of the week due to construction on the site. The work at the diesel plant site will result in additional, intermittent lane closures of this area for the next 30 days, as well as limited or no …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has announced seasonal road restrictions have been lifted. The so-called frost law imposed speed and weight restrictions during the freeze-thaw cycle to help preserve the integrity of non-primary roadways. The frost law was put into effect last month.

Two noteworthy plans were reviewed and approved Tuesday by the Sturgis Planning Commission. Plans for a potential Meijer store, at 1170 S. Centerville Road, and a Culver’s restaurant on South Centerville Road between Magnolia Avenue and Elm Street, were approved by the panel. Meijer representatives presented their plan for a 195,000-square-foot store, outlining several entry points to the parking lot …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is seeking approval for a millage-request renewal in August. During Thursday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting, CTA director Steve Yorks said the request would ask for renewal of 0.33 mills for a four-year period. Committee members recommended the request appears before the board during its twice-a-month meeting Tuesday. After it …

The Meijer grocery chain has confirmed it is looking into a new store in Sturgis. Later this month, the Sturgis Planning Commission will review site plans provided by the store regarding a site at South Centerville Road and West South Street. The location is north of the Sturgis Walmart. Preliminary plans call for a building just under 200,000-square-feet, though its …

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.8 percent February unemployment rate was more than January’s 6.9 percent. February’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percent less than the same month one year earlier, …

Culver’s won’t be the only new restaurant in Sturgis this year. Company officials from Wings Etc. announced they plan to open a location there by the end of 2014. According to a company press release, project planning has been in progress for many months. There has been no location decided yet for the grill and pub. Wings Etc. is a …

The January unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.9 percent January unemployment rate was equal to December’s figure. January’s unemployment rate was 1.7 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is looking to fill a full-time position following a retirement and two resignations. County commissioners earlier this month approved a request to fill the position to help offset the resignation of road patrol officer Dru Carney. In addition, patrol officer Terry Baker has resigned and Pete VanCamp retired Friday. In other personnel news at …

Legislation that could make it easier for telephone companies to end landline service has been approved by the Michigan House of Representatives. The bill removes the role of the Michigan Public Service Commission in any effort by a phone company in abandoning a local exchange. Instead, the bill leaves the regulatory role up to the Federal Communications Commission. The Senate-approved …