News

Approval was granted last week for an employee from St. Joseph County Circuit Court to attend four out-of-state conferences in the coming year. Members of the county commission gave consent for Kathryn Griffin to attend conferences related to National Association for Court Management. Griffin, circuit and probate court administrator, is an elected member of the NACM’s board of directors. In …

Due to a delay in curing of concrete, the newly installed Decker Road bridge will not open until Nov. 18, according to the St. Joseph County Road Commission. The bridge, located in Colon Township, initially was scheduled to open this week.

A candlelight memorial for Jodi Parrack took place Sunday at Cannon Park in Constantine. Thirty sky lanterns were released, as more than 40 people attended the event. Parrack was a victim of homicide in 2007. Her mother, Jo Gilson, has held a vigil annually since then. Gilson, however, said this is the last candlelight vigil she plans to stage. Daniel …

Three Rivers Health is pleased to announce the additon of James Maskill, DPM, to the Three Rivers Health Medical Staff. Dr. Maskill will be seeing patients at Three Rivers Bone & Joint. Prior to joining Three Rivers, Dr. Maskill completed fellowship training with New England Foot and Ankle Specialists, where he specialized in complex hindfoot and forefoot reconstruction, total ankle …

St. Joseph County officials have amended a food-service contract with Canteen Services of Tekonsha. County commission members last week endorsed the restructured agreement, which replaces wording in the previous pact that dated to 2000, county administrator Pat Yoder said, adding that an updated agreement reflecting current sheriff’s department administrators is in place. The new contract reflects a five-year agreement with …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a statement in which it is estimated about half of all cases of shingles occur in men and women 60 years of age and older. Consequently, the agency is recommending people in that age group consider getting vaccinated. The department may be able to help people who are older than 60 years …

The Centreville Downtown Development Authority is taking steps to ensure its area veterans are acknowledged on more than just a few occasions through the year. Coinciding with a ceremony taking place Wednesday, the DDA plans to unveil a pair of banners and dedicate a portion of village sidewalk as a symbolic thank you to local residents for their military service. …

Two experienced candidates have offered their services to fill a vacancy on the Sturgis City Commission. Meeting last week’s application deadline were Jeff Mullins and Steven Shevick. Both are residents of Precinct 1, located on the city’s southeast side. Each is vying to succeed Michael Austermann, who resigned Oct. 14. Mullins was appointed to Sturgis Planning Commission earlier this year …

Events this week are marking the 10th anniversary of the Kalamazoo Promise free-tuition program. The anonymously funded plan, announced in the fall of 2005, pays the college tuition of students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools in Michigan. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports PromiseNet 2015 takes place Tuesday through Thursday. The conference brings together communities emulating the Kalamazoo Promise. Education and …

A sister of a man who was fatally shot by police in southwestern Michigan has been sentenced to time-served and probation for her role in a standoff. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports 34-year-old Michelle Pelletier learned her sentence Monday. She was earlier convicted of two counts of resisting and obstructing police. She says she doesn’t feel like she got a fair …