Government

The process aimed at sustainable and more equitable funding for the Three Rivers Fire Department (TRFD) Ambulance Service continued to move forward Thursday evening (July 26) with the latest ‘Community Development Meeting’ (CDM) of officials from the City of Three Rivers and Fabius, Lockport and Park townships. City officials presented draft agreements between the city and each of the townships …

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates increased in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in June, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and labor force levels rose in most regions in June. “Workforce and employment levels in most Michigan regions expanded in June as summer and seasonal hiring continued,” said Rick Waclawek, director of …

Over 60 people came out July 21 to the second annual Stroller Roll to support the local early childhood fund. Many adults brought their children in strollers while others came out to run competitively. The funds raised will support the Early Childhood Implementation Fund held at the Sturgis Area Community Foundation. These dollars support preschool scholarships for at risk three …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency – in conjunction with Governor Rick Snyder’s declaration of August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month – is sponsoring a Hats Off to Breastfeeding Campaign. All breastfeeding mothers and their children are invited to participate in a fun, free “photo session” with the latest fashion hit for breastfeeding babes – Nursing Hat Covers, a fashion craze …

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams Wednesday (July 25) applauded the quick action by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack in designating four counties in Southwest Michigan – Branch, Cass, Hillsdale and St. Joseph – as primary natural disaster areas due to the extreme drought conditions facing farmers in those counties. Additionally, …

The City of Three Rivers has rescinded the burn ban declared on June 27. That’s the word from Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson of the Three Rivers Fire Department (TRFD) who said, “Surface weather data has finally fallen below high-risk levels.” In announcing the lifting of the ban on burning, Tomlinson noted the city’s household burning ordinance and said the fine …

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced TWO road closures in the WLKM listening area: • There will be a total closure of M-60 from M-62 to Calvin Center Road in Cassopolis (Cass County) from 5 p.m. Monday, August 6, through 8 p.m. Friday, August 24, for CN Railroad track reconstruction. Detour routes will be posted. • There will …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging (COA) has approved a new, five-year lease with the City of Three Rivers for the Three Rivers Community Center. The Community Center, located at 103 South Douglas Avenue, has been the headquarters for the COA in recent years and that will continue until at least 2017 with authorization given last week (July 18) …

The Three Rivers City Commission dealt with a variety of items during a relatively brief regular meeting last week (July 17) The session included three public hearings during which there were no citizen comments. In each case, the commission approved the issue at hand. Specifically, commissioners: • approved a Special Exception Use Permit for a Massage Establishment and Day Spa …

A monument to mark the gravesite of Jodi Parrack was put into place last month, thanks to the efforts of Constantine Police Chief Jim Bedell. The headstone is a permanent tribute to the 11-year-old girl, whose murder remains unsolved more than four years after she was last seen riding her bicycle from a friend’s house. The monument is placed at …