Symbolic pinwheels placed throughout county

Officials from Centreville-based St. Joseph County Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect spent portions of the day Wednesday and Thursday placing almost 400 pinwheels outside city hall in Three Rivers, and at Free Church and Thurston Woods parks in Sturgis.
Eventually, the pinwheels will be in locations throughout all 16 townships in St. Joseph County, according to Myra Brimmer, executive director of the CA/N Council.
She said the pinwheels are symbolic of childhood and are meant to promote the idea of a healthy and happy child. April, she noted, is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
About 600 more pinwheels will be placed throughout the rest of the county and will remain in place until the end of the month.
A related event takes place at 7 p.m. April 23 at Sturgis Presbyterian Church, where a prayer service recognizing hope and healing for people impacted by child abuse will take place.