County Information

The Michigan Department of Transportation is expected to perform maintenance work today in Three Rivers. As a result, the agency has announced a single-lane closure on eastbound M-60 between Wood and Washington streets from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. MDOT officials said traffic will be maintained with a flagging operation.

Riverside Health Clinic in Three Rivers has received two grants totaling $4,500. The Academy of General Dentistry Foundation recently awarded $3,000 to Riverside to support a dental program aimed at improving oral health for patients who are diabetic and uninsured or underinsured. In addition, the Filippis Foundation has awarded Riverside $1,500 to lend additional support for its Diabetes Case Management …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Gerald Loudenslager announced Monday he will not be seeking re-election after his current term expires at the end of the year. The 67-year-old Loudenslager said with the county commission dropping from seven members to five in 2013, he does not wish to run against Rick Shaffer to represent a newly redrawn district that consolidates portions of …

The St. Joseph County Bar Association has bestowed its annual Liberty Bell Award to Eva Sylvester. The Three Rivers resident has a 45-year history serving as a legal secretary. She has spent 22 of those years working in St. Joseph County Probate Court under Judge Thomas Shumaker. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton announced Sylvester as the recipient of the 28th …

Rob Olsen, who retired last year as superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, has been named to the Michigan Association of School Administrators Hall of Fame. The award recognizes a career of outstanding leadership and dedication. The 63-year-old Olsen, who currently works part time as an administrator for Portage Public Schools, was a unanimous selection by his peers from the region …

An art professor at Glen Oaks Community College has been selected as the recipient of the annual E.J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award. Michael Northrop, who joined the Centreville-area college in 2000 and became a full-time faculty member in 2005, was announced the 28th winner of the award. Northrop teaches art history, object drawing, two-dimensional design and several other …

Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste and a number of recyclable materials was declared a success by event organizers. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management Planning Committee, the twice-a-year collection at the county fairgrounds resulted in an accumulation of 454 tires, 12,000 pounds of household hazardous waste items and 27,000 pounds of electronics – enough to fill …

The annual clean-up day at Camp Fort Hill kept about two dozen people busy throughout the day Saturday. Volunteers at the 228-acre camp, at the border of White Pigeon and Sherman townships, cleared paths of brush and downed trees, raked leaves and performed general tasks at the camp’s seven cottages. Dave Ludders, camp director, said Camp Fort Hill doesn’t have …

Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell is urging people to be aware of a scam that was carried out against a victim this week. The larceny of money and jewelry is being investigated following an incident Wednesday in the 500 block of Osterhout Street. A 79-year-old female told police she was approached outside her residence by a trio of men who …

Infrastructure improvements undertaken last year by Three Rivers Community Schools have netted the district an award. During this week’s board of education meeting, district officials were presented an Energy Efficiency Leader award from indoor comfort-systems provider Trane. John Atsma, area manager for Trane, presented the award, noting the $1.6 million in energy-efficiency improvements will eventually pay for itself. The company …