Four staff members were the latest victims of Colon Community Schools’ financial woes. Members of the district’s board of education Monday laid off science teacher Darrin VandenBerg, social studies teacher Matt Swanwick, English and Spanish teacher Staci Hofer, and early childhood special education teacher Erin Gose. VandenBerg, a 10-year employee and former athletic director, also coached the school’s varsity football …

Two weeks after she was recognized for giving her final annual report as county clerk, Pattie Bender was once again the center of attention Tuesday. The 64-year-old Bender was saluted as Tuesday was the final county commission meeting before her June 30 retirement. The fanfare included a resolution in her honor, and gifts of a watch from the courthouse employees …

Rolly A. Lamphere, age 94, of Mendon, died Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers following a brief illness. He was born in Chicago, IL on Dec. 11, 1920 the son of Roy and Marie (Englehardt) Lamphere and attended schools in Chicago. He was married to Ella Brabec in Chicago on Dec. 20, 1941, and they moved …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education have decided to pursue a permanent, full-time superintendent. The decision, made at Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, means the proposal of working out a deal with Bronson Community Schools to share the services of its superintendent, Teresa Belote, is temporarily off the table. Board member Rebecca Stoll said as long as …

A Three Rivers man was charged with drug-related offenses after a search warrant was executed last week by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Investigators on June 9 served a search warrant in the 200 block of East Michigan Avenue in the city of Three Rivers. SCAN investigators were alerted after Three Rivers officers were called to the location …

Members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education agreed this week to hire Roger Rathburn on an interim basis for the 2015-16 academic year. During its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, the board supported a motion that will bring aboard Rathburn to replace Rob Kuhlman. The Mendon board earlier this year voted 4-3 to not renew Kuhlman’s contract, a measure …

A 1-year-old Mendon boy was treated for minor injuries following a two-vehicle accident last week in Mendon Township. Sheriff’s deputies said Brayden Wolf was in a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Amy Jo Cooley, also of Mendon. Cooley was driving south on Silver Street at 2:30 p.m. June 10 when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Carroll Haas, …

A village president in Michigan is trying to ban recordings at the community’s offices and the surrounding grounds, prompting opposition from those who don’t want restrictions at the public building. Just before the end of a recent council meeting, Goodrich Village Council President Mark Baldwin announced a ban on recordings. The announcement was met with talk of a lawsuit and …

Prosecutors in western Michigan have charged a Calhoun County sheriff’s deputy with drunken driving and attempted resisting and obstructing police. The Kalamazoo Gazette and WOOD-TV report that the deputy also was charged Tuesday with failing to stop at a crash scene and possessing a firearm while under the influence. Police in Kalamazoo say the deputy crashed her vehicle into a …

Peanut butter and bologna? What a combination! I really like peanut butter sandwiches, but not made with just peanut butter. I have never tried a peanut butter and banana combination, although I’ve been told that it’s really pretty tasty, so I’ll add that to my bucket list of sandwiches. I have had peanut butter with slices of dill pickle, and …