News

More than 400 motorcycles were part of Saturday’s 30th Sturgis Toy Run procession. Organizers of the annual event said good weather and the occasion of the Toy Run’s milestone contributed to a strong crowd of more than 2,000 people attending the Toy Run after-party at the event’s Kelly Road location in Burr Oak Township. Toy Run Board President Pat Linnan …

Glen Oaks Community College officials have announced a reverse-transfer agreement with Ferris State University. Glen Oaks students who transfer to Ferris prior to receiving their associate’s degree may be eligible to obtain their two-year degree from Glen Oaks by transferring their Ferris credits back to GOCC, as part of the agreement announced last week. Glen Oaks President Gary Wheeler said …

A forum hosted by the Fabius Township Wetlands Committee, will focus on regional efforts to inform area landowners of available tools, programs and financial incentives to protect the area’s remaining wetlands and restore some that have been lost. The forum, entitled “River Country Riches: Landowner Incentives to Preserve Private Wetlands for Regional Benefit,” will take place Sept. 24 at 6:30 …

Officials from the ALDI grocery store chain say ground was broken this last week for the company’s Three Rivers store. Earth-moving equipment was brought to the area of Broadway Road in front of Home Depot, where the 16,400-square-foot store will be constructed. The store, which is one of more than 1,200 in 32 states, is expected to open in early …

State Rep. Matt Lori last week announced a grant to eliminate blight in downtown Dowagiac by funding rehabilitation of a historic building into a movie theater and residential units. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved the $171,005 Community Development Block Grant enabling a local firm to rehabilitate the building, located at 115 S. Front St. The building is currently in …

A broken water seal in the F Wing at Glen Oaks Community College resulted in a two-hour delayed start of classes Thursday. The early morning incident, at the north end of campus near the auto garage, triggered the overhead sprinkler system to activate, college officials said. Glen Oaks President Gary Wheeler said the incident occurred in an out-of-the-way area where …

More than 200 people gathered Thursday at Riverside Church to pay their final respects to longtime Three Rivers resident and community advocate Bruce Snook. Snook, 66, was a longtime employee at WLKM radio, the former director of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce and most recently the editor and publisher of the River Country Journal website. Snook, who passed …

The August retirement of David Northrop as director of the Sturgis Department of Public Safety has resulted in a number of promotions, announced Thursday by the department. Geoff Smith was promoted from detective sergeant to chief; Ryan Banaszak from sergeant to detective sergeant; Damon Knapp from shift sergeant to school resource officer; Jeremy Marsh from sergeant to nighttime shift sergeant; …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education have selected Jay Newman as the district’s interim superintendent. The veteran educator and Colon resident was chosen Tuesday from a field of four candidates. Newman, 63, will fill in while the board looks for a successor to Lloyd Kirby, who decided over the summer to retire. Newman, who will be paid …

Two men, ages 23 and 17, were taken into custody by Sturgis police following a foot pursuit near Franks Park late Tuesday. According to the Sturgis Police Department, the two were seen walking in the park shortly before midnight. Police suspected the two were involved in a methamphetamine lab earlier in the day. As officers attempted to stop them, the …