A charge of felony embezzlement has been leveled against Three Rivers High School teacher Sara Freeman following her initial court appearance Monday. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton handled the preliminaries of the case, which involves the alleged embezzlement of more than $20,000. Freeman, 33, is a language arts teacher at the school. But in her additional capacity as yearbook advisor, …

Three people were taken to Three Rivers Health following a three-vehicle crash caused by a suspected drugged driver Tuesday morning in Three Rivers. The person responsible for the incident, which took place at the intersection of South Main and Liberty streets, faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs and child endangerment, according to Three Rivers police. Investigators said …

A former teacher in Three Rivers and Constantine has entered a plea of no contest related to two charges of criminal sexual conduct. David Wing, 59, who also served as an administrator with Marcellus Community Schools, made his plea Monday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court before Judge Paul Stutesman. Wing’s no-contest pleas were in connection to one count of …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education are mulling a number of options in an effort to trim as much as $500,000 from the district’s $5.7 million budget. The board, which met Monday before a standing-room-only audience in excess of 80 people, is considering options that include the privatization of its transportation services, the elimination of up to …

Deputies from the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were called last week to investigate a breaking-and-entering attempt in Flowerfield Township. The incident occurred at a residence in the 50000 block of Wetherbee Road. A neighbor reported hearing the house alarm going off and seeing a male suspect running from the house. The alarm was triggered as a result of the …

Henry “Chipper” E. Jones II, 59, formerly of Niles, went to be with our Lord at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at his home, with family at his bedside. Henry was born on Nov. 11, 1955 in Pawating Hospital in Niles. He was the third child, the only son, of Henry L. and Florency J. Jones. Henry grew …

Four western Michigan high school students have been arrested after a handgun was discharged in a boys’ restroom.  Kalamazoo police say in a release that a 10th-grader brought the small caliber, semi-automatic pistol Tuesday morning to Loy Norrix High School and inadvertently fired it.  Two other 10th grade students — a boy and girl — kept the gun in their …

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. In Chicago, they put something in the Chicago River that turns it a very noticeable shade of green. Here in Three Rivers, we have a hard enough time just keeping the rivers free of debris. Should you choose to celebrate this special day, please do so responsibly, because tomorrow is another work day, and since I’m …

By a 4-3 margin, members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education voted Monday to not renew the contract of Superintendent Rob Kuhlman. Board members Keith Heitkamp, Lynn Cool, Chris Ames and Regina Schinker opted against renewing Kuhlman’s contract; the measure was supported by Roger Cupp, Linda Thompson and board president Jim Fassett. Mendon school officials a month ago …

The Three Rivers Police Department is working with officials from Three Rivers Community Schools regarding a situation involving the distribution an explicit photo of a student. Police said the inappropriate digital photo of a minor was consensually sent, but then distributed beyond the account of the recipient. As many as 12 people will likely be questioned, police said. A summary …