St Joseph County

Union faculty members at Glen Oaks Community College have issued a vote of no confidence in school president Gary Wheeler. The 23-4 vote was taken last week, with four of the college’s 31 union faculty members abstaining. The vote was brought to the attention of Glen Oaks’ board of trustees at its meeting Wednesday. Faculty union president Chad Worthington presented …

Two methamphetamine laboratories were discovered at a residence in Park Township Wednesday. Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit were drawn to a house in the 54000 block of Wilbur Road by a tip from a neighbor, who suspected the man and woman who reside at the house were involved in meth production. The man and woman were …

Investigators with the Michigan State Police responded to an attempted breaking and entering into a shed and trailer at a residence in the 51000 block of Buckhorn Road in northern Park Township. The incident occurred in an area around Cotherman Lake Road, where a number of theft-from-motor-vehicle situations were reported early Wednesday. In a separate matter, MSP investigators are looking …

Congressman Fred Upton has announced his service academy nominees for the 2013-2014 academic year. According to a media release, the nominees have excelled both academically and athletically at their respective schools and have gone through an extensive selection process. The selection process included an interview with Upton’s Academy Advisory Board, which is comprised of local community leaders. Upon approval by …

Glen Oaks Community College is one of four Kalamazoo-area junior colleges to reach a reverse-transfer agreement with Western Michigan University. Signed earlier this month, the arrangement allows students who obtain credits at Glen Oaks and Western to combine credits from both schools and apply them toward an associate’s degree. In most cases, the agreement will benefit students who attend one …

A St. Joseph County department head was suspended for a day without pay over a hunting-related incident last month. John Pence, parks and recreation director, served the one-day suspension Nov. 21 after it was discovered he gave permission for a party of four to hunt at Cade Lake County Park. The hunters were found on the 52-acre, county-owned parcel after …

A 17-year member of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education was recognized this week for his longevity to the seven-member board. John Rentfrow was issued a gift card and many thanks from board members. Rentfrow chose to not seek re-election last month and will be replaced by Carl Barth during the board’s January meeting.

Numerous windows in a house in the 100 block of Pleasant Street in Sturgis were shattered around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Officers from the Sturgis Police Department are investigating the matter. The homeowner, meanwhile, is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for causing the damage.

A longtime employee of the Three Rivers Public Library has been named director of the Colon Township Library. Dave Stewart, a native of Peoria, Ill., started the job in late September following nine years of employment with the facility in Three Rivers. The 31-year-old Stewart, who remains a Three Rivers resident, replaces Patti Miller, who retired in the fall. Stewart, …

Constantine Board of Education members will stage a special meeting next week to review policies and procedures stemming from the recent investigation of sexual conduct demonstrated by a pair of 5-year-old boys. Set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday next week at the high school library, the parents-only meeting will include a look at policies such as the paid, temporary suspension of …