County Commission

Enhanced drug-enforcement unit

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners followed through on their financial commitment toward an enhanced drug-enforcement unit that will focus on people behind methamphetamine production and sales. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners agreed to their part of the three-way funding mechanism that includes partnerships with the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers. Previously, the commission accepted the funding …

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Recognition for years of service

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday recognized 30 people observing milestone anniversaries as county employees. Soon-to-be-retired county administrator Judy West-Wing led the way with 30 years of service. Honored for their silver anniversary as county employees were Larry Diekman, Terry Hammond, Bernice Metzger, Tab Wedge, Pat Kulikowski, Tom Miller and Dan Kennedy. Also singled out Tuesday were …

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River cleanup completed

Members of the St. Joseph County Conservation District and a team of volunteers completed the final river cleanup of the season on the Portage River Sept. 29. More than a dozen people were on hand to clear a section of the river between Parkville Road and North Fisher Lake Road. Volunteers collected approximately 350 pounds of debris, which included a …

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Successful hazardous waste collection

A twice-a-year collection of electronics and household hazardous waste items Saturday was declared a success by event organizers. Staged at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds, the four-hour event netted about 7,000 pounds of hazardous waste, almost 24,000 pounds of electronics and 340 tires. The collection was sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, whose secretary, Pat Kulikowski, said …

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New assistant prosecuting attorney

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough was given approval this week to hire a new assistant prosecuting attorney. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to modify the 2012 budget to accommodate the hiring of Natasha Pattanshetti. She will work part time for two months, then step in on a full-time basis after current assistant T.J. Reed …

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Weenie King gets approval

Mike King, owner of the Weenie Kings push-cart hot dog stand, was given approval to serve as a vendor at two upcoming events on county property. King, a Three Rivers businessman, will be at Cade Lake for this weekend’s Halloween-theme activities, and at Meyer Broadway Park Oct. 14 for the Three Rivers Fall Color Tour. Approval for King’s concessions was …

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Commissioners discuss budget

Discussions regarding budget requests from various county departments started Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners staged the first of what could be a number of workshops related to the county’s 2013 fiscal-year budget. The three-hour special session featured a thorough review of requests from various departments. Though no concrete decisions were made, recommendations were tentatively …

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Increased fee for marriage waiver

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners have agreed to increase the fee for a marriage waiver. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners acted on Clerk Pattie Bender’s request to raise the fee from $5 to $25. In a memo to commissioners, Bender explained that when a couple applies for a marriage license, the law requires a three-day waiting period …

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911 dispatch to get half a mill

The millage amount to be levied for St. Joseph County’s 911 Central Dispatch service in 2013 will be half a mill, one-quarter of a mill less than what voters authorized in August. Millage amounts to levy next year for four county agencies were set Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. While the county’s roads, transportation and commission …

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Seventh river cleanup this summer

A team of 11 people lent a hand Saturday in a cleanup of the Pigeon River between U.S. 12 and Blue School Road in Mottville Township. The seventh river cleanup this summer, spearheaded by the St. Joseph County Conservation District, yielded nearly 300 pounds of debris, including rusted farm equipment, tires, a porcelain toilet, and an assortment of litter, including …

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