If it weren’t for friends on LinkedIn, I would have forgotten that this month marks nine years of doing the “Out and About” column. The column has changed a bit since the first column in April 2006, but my enthusiasm for putting it together has only grown. There never seems to be a lack of things to comment on and …

Harold E. Johnson, 69, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Three Rivers Health, following an extended illness. He was born April 25, 1945, in Three Rivers, a son of Raymond and Mary Alice (Raver) Johnson. In his early life, he lived in the Wasepi and Nottawa area and attended school there. He was a resident of White …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education voted Monday on a number of measures that will cut more than $550,000 from its $6 million budget. The votes include the backing of an administrative reorganization that will create a K-12 principal position and be based at Colon Elementary School, and a dean of students who will also hold the …

Two matters related to Enterprise Drive will be fielded by the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. A contract for the Enterprise Drive pavement reconstruction and construction engineering related to the roadway will be handled by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners during their 6 o’clock meeting at city hall. Also on the agenda is an $89,000 proposal for a water …

Dawn Elizabeth Barrett, age 53, of Athens, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Dawn was born May 15, 1961, in Grand Rapids, Mich., a daughter to Gary and Corinne (Dutterer) Malinoski. Dawn graduated from high school and furthered her education at cosmetology school. On Nov. 24, 1979, she married Lyle Barrett in …

Patsy Jean Scott, age 62, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2015, at the I.U. Health Hospital in Goshen, Ind. She was born May 16, 1952, in Sturgis, Mich., daughter of the late Robert and Jean (Lane) King. Patsy resided her whole life in the Burr Oak and Sturgis area and was a graduate of Sturgis …

Collection figures from Saturday’s drop-off of household hazardous waste and electronics were down compared to the spring 2014 event. Nonetheless, organizers are calling it a success. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management Planning Committee, the four-hour collection yielded about 8,500 pounds of hazardous waste, 20,000 pounds of electronics, 622 tires, 1,200 cans of paint, half a semi …

The Three Rivers Sports Complex received a $10,000 donation from Fibre Converters Foundation Inc. to help fund the construction of a multi-use sports complex. Three Rivers Little League, Three Rivers Rocket Football and American Youth Soccer Organization 1197 have partnered with the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation to build a multi-use sports complex. The sports complex will help alleviate busy …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce is extending an invitation to recognize Administrative Professionals Day. A luncheon, entertainment and an inspirational speaker will be a part of the lineup, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Carnegie Center for the Arts. Cost is $20 per person; Ridgeway Floral will offer table delivery of chocolates and flowers for $10. …

The Centreville Downtown Development Authority board has created a business-improvement grant program to assist businesses with improving the facade of buildings located within the DDA district. The DDA is budgeting $15,000 per year to fund the grant. Grants are awarded on a dollar-to-dollar match, up to a maximum of $ 5,000. Examples of eligible projects are repair or replacement of …