Government

St. Joseph County Administrator Judy West-Wing was honored Tuesday by current and past members of the county’s Board of Commissioners. The session was West-Wing’s last, as she is retiring next week and ending a 30-year tenure as a St. Joseph County employee. Current commissioners were joined by former members Eric Shafer, John Bippus, Larry Walton and others as West-Wing was …

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched in the early morning hours Wednesday to a home invasion in progress in Burr Oak Township. Upon arrival, they found unknown suspects had gained entry into a residence in the 28000 block of White Street and stolen items from a wallet and a checkbook. The Sturgis Police Department’s K-9 unit …

The St. Joseph County United Way recently awarded a grant to St. Joseph County Child Protective Services for children removed from their homes due to the manufacturing of meth inside their homes. Eighty, $25 gift cards to local retailers were provided to CPS to give foster-care families the funds they need to purchase pajamas, socks, underwear and basic necessities for …

Michigan State Police investigators from the Coldwater post said guns and electronics were among the items taken from a residence in Fawn River Township earlier this week. The breaking-and-entering incident occurred around 4:15 Tuesday afternoon in the 68000 block of St. Joseph Road. The victim said he was at work when the break-in occurred. The residence was also ransacked and …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has given approval to members of the Centreville Covered Bridge Days Committee for use of the courthouse property later this summer. Committee chair Carole McClain asked for the use of the west, north and east area of the courthouse lawn from 10 a.m. June 21 through 6 p.m. June 22. The two-day festival …

The Three Rivers City Commission has chosen Melissa Bliss to serve as city clerk. Tuesday’s action was taken after predecessor Lindsay Howes announced her resignation from the post to take the job as St. Joseph County grant writer. Bliss, a 35 year-old Three Rivers resident, previously worked in an administrative position for the city of Portage before she joined the …

A Three Rivers man was arrested at Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford Airport after he allegedly left a series of threatening texts and voicemail messages for his wife. Michigan State Police investigators said Doug Buell, who was in Las Vegas for an unspecified amount of time, left texts and voicemails that became increasingly more threatening in nature, MSP investigators said. …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has given the green light to the use of a trained dog for therapeutic and calming purposes. Commissioners on Tuesday OK’d an agreement with Linda Baker, victims’ rights coordinator who works for the county prosecutor’s office. Baker said three other counties in the state have dogs used for victims or witnesses who need a …

A 19-year-old Constantine man was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Health following a one-car accident over the weekend in Mendon Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Curtis Roberts was southbound on Nottawa Road when he lost control of his vehicle at Prairie Corners Road. The vehicle struck a power pole. Investigators said it appears speed and alcohol …

The City of Sturgis is installing its new, portable ice-skating rink at the corner of North Monroe Street and East Chicago Road, next to Headlines Hair Design and Spa. Installation started last week and opening for skating will depend on the weather. More information will be forthcoming regarding hours of operation and when skating begins.