County Information

A large crowd was on hand last week at Belle Epoque to salute Three Rivers’ Citizen of the Year, Jerry Wright. Presented by the Three Rivers Lions Club, the Citizen of the Year was newly named this year in honor of Bruce C. Snook. Snook was a longtime Lion and community activist who passed away last August. The 70-year-old Wright …

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by three-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.5 percent March unemployment rate was less than February’s 6.8 percent. In addition, the March unemployment rate was 1.4 percent less than the same …

The Sturgis Fire Department responded to a fire at Cobalt Holdings early Monday. According to a department media release, at 6:22 a.m., a water-flow alarm was reported from the building, located in the 1100 block of North Centerville Road. Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed smoke emitting from the north side of the building. The fire is believed to have started …

Names of the three people involved in a two-vehicle accident have been released by Michigan State Police. The incident occurred around 12:15 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Drive and U.S. 131 in Constantine Township. Investigators said Patricia VanDyke, 74, of Elkhart, proceeded east on Riverside and into the path of a northbound semi driven by Timothy Miller, 61, of Kalamazoo. VanDyke …

About 40 people took part in Sunday’s 43rd annual CROP Hunger Walk in Sturgis. The amount raised has not yet been tallied. Cumulatively, however, the Sturgis-based event has brought in $425,000 for the needy internationally and locally over the past 42 years. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the three-mile walk were earmarked to the local Salvation Army and Burr …

Two incumbents will likely be returning to the Three Rivers City Commission later this year, while a third will be involved in a contested race. City clerk Melissa Bliss said an August runoff vote will not be necessary, meaning Second District Commissioner Alison Haigh and Fourth District representative Carolyn McNary will run unopposed in November’s general election. Incumbent Daryl Griffith, …

Longtime Sturgis resident Mark Dvorak was appointed to the Sturgis City Commission Wednesday. With a seat to the nine-member commission open as a result of Michael Wilson’s move from the city’s Third Precinct, Dvorak received four votes from the commission. Kimberly Wilson received two and Mark Ritter earned one endorsement. Dvorak will serve until the term expires in November 2016. …

The Abiel Fellows Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution has announced its DAR Good Citizens for 2014. Chosen by their schools for their qualities of good character emphasizing dependability, service, leadership and patriotism, the honored students are Kalie Cole of Three Rivers, Kelsey Potter of Constantine, Jennifer Griffith of Mendon and Haley Jo Schlabach of Centreville. The DAR Good Citizens …

Two St. Joseph County school board members earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards. Pete Bennett of Three Rivers Community Schools and Sally Boeschenstein of the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District were recognized for their efforts to improve leadership skills, and demonstrate their commitment to student achievement and their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes …

The mother of homicide victim Jodi Parrack said anyone with knowledge of the incident should step forward and tell the truth. Jo Gilson, mother of 11-year-old Parrack, addressed the media Tuesday at the Constantine Police Department. The event was staged following last week’s arrest of Raymond McCann on a felony charge of perjury. A warrant for McCann’s arrest was issued …