Government

Three items of new business and a public hearing regarding a parks and recreation master plan are on the agenda for this evening’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners are expected to discuss the position of city assessor, a DDA investment request and a proposed resolution electing the hard-cap limits on public employer contributions to medical …

Michael Austermann, first precinct commissioner for the city of Sturgis, has announced his resignation, effective immediately. Austermann cited health issues as the reason behind the decision. To fill the vacant board seat, the city will accept letters of interest, which must be submitted to the city clerk by Nov. 5. Prospects must be registered voters who reside in Precinct 1. …

A 47-year-old Three Rivers man was found guilty on eight charges of sexual-related offenses following a trial last week in Centreville. A jury in St. Joseph County Circuit Court on Thursday found Cary Jones guilty on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting a minor for immoral purposes. Jones was a live-in boyfriend of the …

Three puppies and jewelry were among the items taken from a residence in Sturgis Township during a recent break-in. State police investigators said the incident occurred between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 on Balk Road, near Fawn River Road. In addition to the three, six-month-old American bulldog puppies and jewelry, other items taken include money and a gaming console …

A 28-year-old Elkhart man is in custody after leading Cass County Sheriff’s deputies in a pursuit from Indiana to Michigan over the weekend. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said the pursuit started in Goshen and Cass County deputies continued the pursuit once it entered their jurisdiction. The offender’s damaged vehicle was tracked several miles in Jefferson Township as well as Calvin …

Longtime Sturgis Township zoning officer Gary Bland is being succeeded by two officials who will split zoning responsibilities. The move was announced last week by Supervisor George Morse. According to Morse, Bland’s departure after 15 years was by mutual agreement and follows a complaint filed by a township resident over Bland’s actions in resolving a neighborhood lighting dispute. Trustees approved …

Three members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education were assigned new positions this week. With Waneta Truckey stepping in as board president after Mike Bosma last month gave up the post but remains on the board, Pete Bennett was named vice president, Carl Barth treasurer and Erin Nowak secretary. The new duties were decided Monday.

The Twin County Probation Center will be relocating next year to another site in Three Rivers after it closed on an existing building last month. Center officials said they expect to be operating by next summer in the building that previously housed the Sav-A-Lot supermarket on South Main Street. Tim Miles, executive director of the probation center, said the new …

Here’s a reminder that leaf pickup started this week in Three Rivers and will continue into November. The process began this week in the city’s Third District. It will continue Monday in the First District and move to the Fourth District starting Oct. 26. The Second District will see its leaf pickup start the week of Nov. 2. If weather …

Representatives from Glen Oaks Community College and Michigan State University will be on hand for a special Agricultural Operations information session 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday next week at Glen Oaks Community College’s Dresser Business Development Center. A presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m. The college recently entered into a partnership with Michigan State University’s Institute of Agricultural Technology …