St Joseph County

Four staff members were the latest victims of Colon Community Schools’ financial woes. Members of the district’s board of education Monday laid off science teacher Darrin VandenBerg, social studies teacher Matt Swanwick, English and Spanish teacher Staci Hofer, and early childhood special education teacher Erin Gose. VandenBerg, a 10-year employee and former athletic director, also coached the school’s varsity football …

Two weeks after she was recognized for giving her final annual report as county clerk, Pattie Bender was once again the center of attention Tuesday. The 64-year-old Bender was saluted as Tuesday was the final county commission meeting before her June 30 retirement. The fanfare included a resolution in her honor, and gifts of a watch from the courthouse employees …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education have decided to pursue a permanent, full-time superintendent. The decision, made at Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, means the proposal of working out a deal with Bronson Community Schools to share the services of its superintendent, Teresa Belote, is temporarily off the table. Board member Rebecca Stoll said as long as …

A Three Rivers man was charged with drug-related offenses after a search warrant was executed last week by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Investigators on June 9 served a search warrant in the 200 block of East Michigan Avenue in the city of Three Rivers. SCAN investigators were alerted after Three Rivers officers were called to the location …

Members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education agreed this week to hire Roger Rathburn on an interim basis for the 2015-16 academic year. During its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, the board supported a motion that will bring aboard Rathburn to replace Rob Kuhlman. The Mendon board earlier this year voted 4-3 to not renew Kuhlman’s contract, a measure …

A 1-year-old Mendon boy was treated for minor injuries following a two-vehicle accident last week in Mendon Township. Sheriff’s deputies said Brayden Wolf was in a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Amy Jo Cooley, also of Mendon. Cooley was driving south on Silver Street at 2:30 p.m. June 10 when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Carroll Haas, …

Clarity was shed on a number of issues over which some members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners had reservations related to the Commission on Aging Enhancement Center. The Sturgis facility was at the core of discussions during last week’s executive committee meeting. All five county commissioners were present and were joined by Commission on Aging executive director …

Anticipating a loss of parking with a likely addition to the west side of its courts building, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is hoping to secure a new parking area at a nearby parcel. Members of the county board during a work session last week agreed to continue discussions with a property owner at 205 Dean St. in …

State police are investigating an attempted breaking-and-entering incident reported last week in Mottville Township. According to a state police media release, troopers were called to the 70000 block of Vistula Road, where a home-security alarm was activated around 1:30 p.m. The homeowner arrived on the scene and noticed a rear service door leading into a garage was forced open. Neighbors …

Centreville High School’s baseball team came up one win short of a state championship, as the Bulldogs were beaten Saturday in the state’s Division 4 title game, 10-to-8 by Muskegon Catholic Central. Nonetheless, Centreville finished with a 29-and-2 record, its best season in school history. The Bulldogs made it to the championship game by defeating Rudyard, 2-to-1, the day before …