Government

St. Joseph County’s search for a new administrator may receive help from someone familiar with the position. J. Patrick Yoder, who served as the county’s first-ever administrator for four years starting in 1990, has sent a letter of interest to county board chairman John Dobberteen regarding the position that was vacated last month with the retirement of Judy West-Wing. West-Wing …

The St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Board had a long list of accomplishments in 2012, its first full year. Former board chairperson Lynda Molter presented the panel’s inaugural annual report to members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. Molter said a major accomplishment was the animal shelter getting rid of its gas chamber, a euthanasia chamber …

State Rep. Matt Lori on Tuesday announced the St. Joseph County Grange Fair will receive a $20,000 state grant to fund construction of an educational exhibit pavilion to showcase beef. The county is participating in the County Fairs Capital Improvement Program, which provides Michigan’s county fairs with funds for proposed enhancements to fairgrounds across the state. Lori said agriculture has …

Several dozen marijuana plants and a large amount of marijuana were discovered following the execution of a search warrant by members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit, at a home in the 2800 block of Bonham Road in Colon Township. Two subjects were arrested at the scene for manufacturing marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, maintaining a …

A White Pigeon man who failed to stop for a red light on U.S. 131 in Lockport Township contributed to the cause of a three-vehicle accident last week. Michigan State Police said William Bradford was driving north on the highway when he struck a southbound car turning left onto North Main Street at 6:30 p.m. Friday. His vehicle struck the …

Despite the snow and cold, an $18 million road project is slated to kick off today. The five-mile, Constantine U.S. 131 bypass is scheduled to begin with attention focusing on construction of a bridge over the St. Joseph River in Constantine Township, about a half mile west of the U.S. 131 bridge in the village of Constantine. Contractor Hardman Construction …

Investigators with the White Pigeon detachment of the Michigan State Police agency were called to a Lockport Township business last week in response to a break-in and theft. Around 8 a.m. Friday, MSP personnel were called to Eagle Auto Parts after an employee noticed a 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck and a variety of hand tools were taken from the premises. …

A state report that gauges the well-being of Michigan’s children shows St. Joseph County falls in the lowest third of all the counties in the state. The annual Kids Count in Michigan report indicates St. Joseph County stands 58th of Michigan’s 82 counties. The study takes into account 15 indicators to determine child well-being. From 2005 through 2011, the number …

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said statistics show the effort of the enhanced St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit is making a difference in the number of arrests related to methamphetamines. Citing statistics from 2012, Lillywhite said 18 meth-related arrests were from January through September in St. Joseph County. After the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved funding …

A 39-year-old Mendon woman suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle accident shortly after midnight Thursday. The St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said an eastbound vehicle on M-60 at Haas Road had lost control, run off the roadway and struck several small trees. Two passengers, one 66 years and the other 6 months of age, were uninjured. The driver was treated …