Following an Executive Committee meeting Wednesday morning, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners held a workshop to start planning the 2021 fiscal year budget. For the last several years, the county has operated under a balanced budget, but only by making up shortfalls through drawdowns from the Delinquent Tax Fund (DTF). This year, possible revenue impacts from the ongoing pandemic and a slowed economy brought the imbalance to the front of many of the commission’s conversations about money.
St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department
The 45th Circuit Court of St. Joseph County has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Justice. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Adult Drug Treatment Court Program Director Dr. Barbara Howes confirmed the award at a meeting Wednesday. In a Facebook post, Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said, “I am extremely proud to announce that the 45th Circuit Court has been awarded a new grant from the Federal Government in the amount of $600,000 over the next three years to address the substance abuse needs in our County.”
St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite told Watershed Voice Wednesday that his department will not be able to enforce a directive issued last Friday prohibiting open carry of firearms within 100 feet of polling places around the state. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued the directive, which applies to the upcoming November 3 General Election day, and includes instructions for local clerks on how to carry it out.
Deputies with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department (SJCSD) engaged in a vehicle pursuit Friday morning that ended in the arrest of one person and an ongoing search for another. Deputies attempted a traffic stop on a maroon Ford F-150 pickup truck at approximately 8:10 a.m. for a speeding infraction, according to a press release by Sheriff Mark A. Lillywhite. The vehicle was found to have been stolen, and Deputies believe another stolen vehicle may be related.
In a press release Wednesday, St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite reported that Sheriff’s Deputies pursued a motorcyclist before taking him into custody Tuesday evening. At around 6:30 p.m., the deputies attempted to stop the motorcycle for a traffic violation on U.S. Highway 131 near Wilbur Road in Lockport Township.
Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department and officers from the Three Rivers Police Department responded to an armed robbery in Lockport Township early Friday morning. At approximately 2:19 a.m., according to a press release by Sheriff Mark A. Lillywhite.
Two women were transported to the hospital for minor injuries when a pickup truck struck operated by a Three Rivers man their SUVs Thursday afternoon on Buckhorn Road in Lockport Township.
Deputies with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department took a report of a stolen 1993 Chevy S10 in the 14000 block of Miller Mills Road in Constantine Township on August 11, 2020.
St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to two vehicle incidents on Monday and Tuesday according to press releases issued by Sheriff Mark Lillywhite. The incidents included a motorcycle crash on Shimmel Road on Monday evening and a high-speed chase on U.S. Highway 12 early this morning.