Business

A Portage resident convicted of embezzling more than $100,000 from a local credit union was sentenced in St. Joseph County Circuit Court last week. Kristen Taft, 57, was sentenced to 12 months in jail and five years of probation. Judge Paul Stutesman said her jail sentence would be reduced if she is able to pay more than $160,000 in restitution, …

  A team of investigators from the Sturgis Police Department, along with security officials from Wal-Mart, are investigating an estimated $10,000 embezzlement by an unnamed number of employees. According to a department news release, Sturgis Police said employees were involved in a ring centering on the theft of electronic equipment dating to December. Officers spent several hours overnight Tuesday retrieving …

The Centreville Downtown Development Association has found a seasonal use for the property that previously housed the Village Market grocery store. An attraction called the Centreville Farmers Open Market will start in the parking lot May 4 and run through mid October. It will feature a farmer’s market, crafts, baked goods and flowers. The market is projected to run 2 …

Dr. Kiersten McLeod graduated Magna Cum Laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic receiving her Doctorate in Chiropractic during the commencement exercises on February 24, 2012. Dr. Gary McLeod, also a graduate of Palmer College, had the honor of presenting the diploma to his daughter during the ceremony. To qualify for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, Dr. McLeod completed five academic …

Constantine village officials said plans for a new business setting up at the former Rexam plant remain on track. Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Nature’s Fuel has signed a sales agreement on the purchase of the Rexam site. Honeysett, however, said the transaction remains in progress and a closing has not yet taken place. Honeysett said …

The Centreville Downtown Development Authority recently hired the first program manager in its 21-year history. Carol Snow-Penn, a Centreville native, said her goal is to help the village fill its vacant storefronts and market downtown Centreville as an attractive place for business. Snow-Penn said she would like to see the village establish a farmers market. In addition, she will suggest …

Mike King, proprietor of the Weenie Kings push-cart hot dog stand, said he has decided to keep his business in the parking lot at Harding’s grocery store on West Michigan Avenue for the rest of the season. After the Three Rivers Public Library Board earlier this year evicted King from his five-year location at the Three Rivers Public Library parking …

The former National Guard Armory in Three Rivers will be the new site of a Three Rivers-based company. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners last week agreed to rezone the property from residential to general industry for MVP Improvements. Located at 900 E. Hoffman St., the parcel will allow MVP Improvements to operate in a larger space. Founded by ex-employees from …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Mottville Township over the weekend in response to a business alarm. At 4 a.m. Sunday, an alarm at the Marathon gas station on U.S. 12 was activated. Upon arrival, investigators found a front window had been smashed out. It appears there was no entry made into the business, officials said. The …

St. Joseph County experienced an unemployment drop of seven-tenths of a percent from January to February. The monthly report from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Analysis shows February’s unemployment rate in the county was 9.2 percent. The figure was also a decrease from the county’s unemployment rate in February 2011, which was 11 percent. St. Joseph County’s …