News

The five-year anniversary of Jodi Parrack’s death was marked Thursday with a solemn gathering at Washington Street Park in Constantine. About 75 people showed up to remember the 11-year-old girl who was last seen Nov. 8, 2007, riding her bicycle near Third and South Washington streets. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said a cold-case team from the Michigan State …

A few meetings in the area are on deck this evening. Members of the Constantine Public Schools Board of Education plan to assemble at 6 p.m. One matter of potential discussion may come from last week’s defeat of a Headlee renewal. The setback is keeping the district from more than $100,000 Elsewhere, 7 o’clock meetings are slated for the Lockport …

Larry Matson, who was defeated Tuesday in his bid for a one-year term to the Three Rivers City Commission, said he is considering applying for the vacancy created by the resignation of Judith Gilchrist. Matson, 67, was appointed to the board following the resignation of Ken Baker. He was defeated Tuesday by Diane Haley-Clay. The opening created by Gilchrist’s departure …

A vehicle parked on the shoulder of Broadway Road was damaged around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The hit-and-run incident occurred in the vicinity of Fabius Township Hall. Details about the incident, including extent and location of damage, were not stated in a department media release.

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to allocate $10,000 toward legal fees and preliminary architectural drawings related to a proposed senior center in Sturgis. The action came this week and marks a major step toward the potential development of such a facility. Led by Commissioner Don Eaton, the concept has been in the discussion stages for years and …

A Veteran’s Day remembrance and service is slated to take place at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sturgis. A tribute of prayer, thanksgiving and a memorial service will be a part of the program.

More than 23,000 St. Joseph County residents participated in this week’s general election. The figure means about 54 percent of the county’s registered voters participated in Tuesday’s vote. County Clerk Pattie Bender said the overall number of voters was down from more than 25,000 in 2008. Park Township led St. Joseph County Tuesday with the highest number of residents voting, …

Three Rivers City Clerk Lindsay Howes said the city commission will stage an organizational meeting Monday. At that time, two newly elected commissioners – Alison Haigh and Diane Haley-Clay – will be sworn in. Commissioners Daryl Griffith and Carolyn McNary, who ran unopposed, also will be sworn in during the ceremony. The new-look commission stages its first regularly scheduled meeting …

Two children were among the injured in a Tuesday afternoon accident on U.S. 131 at Heimbach Road in Park Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, 42-year-old Kristina Hamilton, of Three Rivers, was driving west on Heimbach Road when she failed to stop at the southbound lanes of U.S. 131 and struck a vehicle driven by a 31-year-old …

Glen Oaks Community College will see a trio of new faces on its board, following Tuesday’s vote in the general election. Joni Smith and John Bippus claimed the two, six-year seats to the board. Bud Malinoski came up short in the three-person race. Meanwhile, two candidates were unopposed for a pair of four-year terms. Newcomer Mary Lou Falkenstein will join …