County Information

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 …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’ Department has announced it is accepting reservations for its next boater safety program. Participants must be 14 years of age or older. The first class is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 2 and will take place at the Colon Fire Department. Classes on June 16, 23, 30 and July 7 will meet at the …

Two key employees for the village of Constantine have been awarded two-year contracts. Village manager Mark Honeysett and police chief Jim Bedell were recipients of the two-year agreements. Honeysett said he had been working without a contract for three years. The new agreement is almost identical to terms of the previous contract, including a $54,000 annual salary. Chief Bedell, meanwhile, …

Glen Oaks Community College officials have made attendance at orientation for new students a requirement. Mandatory at any one of the six sessions begins with students new to the school effective with the start of the fall 2012 semester. Sessions last four hours and are offered on various days of the week and at various times of day starting with …