Politics

A longtime former member of the Three Rivers Zoning Board of Appeals has been appointed to the Three Rivers City Commission. Larry Matson was selected Tuesday from a pool of three candidates interested in filling the seat left vacant by Ken Baker. Baker resigned from the commission April 2 due to health-related issues. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners during Tuesday’s …

Victor Fitz announced Monday he will seek a third term as Cass County prosecutor. The 54-year-old Fitz was previously elected as prosecutor in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Fitz was originally appointed to the position by Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge in May 2003. A veteran law enforcement official, Fitz has served in the field of prosecution since 1983. He …

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough announced last week he will be seeking re-election to another four-year term in November. The 32-year-old McDonough is in the fourth year of his initial four-year term after upsetting incumbent Doug Fisher in 2008. McDonough said representing the citizens of St. Joseph County has been an honor and he indicated he hopes to continue …

A millage renewal to support the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is expected to appear on a countywide ballot later this year. The amount of the renewal, however, is being debated by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. During Friday’s executive committee meeting, which drew all seven commissioners, discussion stemmed from the three-quarters of a mill expiring this …

The first of what could well be a number of trailway master plan meetings in Sturgis took place last week. About 50 people attended the session, which centered on ideas and potential routes, corridors and connections for non-motorized traffic. Participants noted existing roadways – including Congress and West streets in Sturgis – along with abandoned railroad rights-of-way could be utilized …

Constantine village officials said plans for a new business setting up at the former Rexam plant remain on track. Village Manager Mark Honeysett said the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Nature’s Fuel has signed a sales agreement on the purchase of the Rexam site. Honeysett, however, said the transaction remains in progress and a closing has not yet taken place. Honeysett said …

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority welcomed more than 10 new businesses in 2011 and was awarded a façade grant for two downtown buildings. Christy Trammell, DDA director, recently provided the annual report to the Three Rivers City Commission. Trammell said noteworthy achievements in 2011 included the establishment of a local historic district, a retail incubator program called Project Start …

Mike King, proprietor of the Weenie Kings push-cart hot dog stand, said he has decided to keep his business in the parking lot at Harding’s grocery store on West Michigan Avenue for the rest of the season. After the Three Rivers Public Library Board earlier this year evicted King from his five-year location at the Three Rivers Public Library parking …

The former National Guard Armory in Three Rivers will be the new site of a Three Rivers-based company. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners last week agreed to rezone the property from residential to general industry for MVP Improvements. Located at 900 E. Hoffman St., the parcel will allow MVP Improvements to operate in a larger space. Founded by ex-employees from …

Voters in White Pigeon Community Schools may now obtain an absentee ballot for the May 8 millage renewal sought by White Pigeon Community Schools. The 780-student district is seeking renewal of a 3-mill sinking fund for five years. If approved, the $5 million generated as a result will allow the district to continue building, infrastructure and technology upgrades. The original …