News

The Centreville Downtown Development Association has found a seasonal use for the property that previously housed the Village Market grocery store. An attraction called the Centreville Farmers Open Market will start in the parking lot May 4 and run through mid October. It will feature a farmer’s market, crafts, baked goods and flowers. The market is projected to run 2 …

The first of nine weekends for motorcycle-safety training takes place Friday at Sturgis High School. Offered through Glen Oaks Community College and overseen by state-certified trainer Robin Bordner, the program is partially funded by the Michigan Department of State. Cost per participant is $25 and classes are limited to 12 students per session. Though the program is offered nine different …

The Michigan Department of Transportation is expected to perform maintenance work today in Three Rivers. As a result, the agency has announced a single-lane closure on eastbound M-60 between Wood and Washington streets from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. MDOT officials said traffic will be maintained with a flagging operation.

Riverside Health Clinic in Three Rivers has received two grants totaling $4,500. The Academy of General Dentistry Foundation recently awarded $3,000 to Riverside to support a dental program aimed at improving oral health for patients who are diabetic and uninsured or underinsured. In addition, the Filippis Foundation has awarded Riverside $1,500 to lend additional support for its Diabetes Case Management …

Sturgis firefighters were dispatched to the James and Lorene Eldridge residence on South Lakeview Street Tuesday morning. The fire was located in a hidden attic space across the rear of the home. Heavy fire, smoke, and water damage was sustained by the entire home. Firefighters were on scene for five hours.

St. Joseph County Commissioner Gerald Loudenslager announced Monday he will not be seeking re-election after his current term expires at the end of the year. The 67-year-old Loudenslager said with the county commission dropping from seven members to five in 2013, he does not wish to run against Rick Shaffer to represent a newly redrawn district that consolidates portions of …

The St. Joseph County Bar Association has bestowed its annual Liberty Bell Award to Eva Sylvester. The Three Rivers resident has a 45-year history serving as a legal secretary. She has spent 22 of those years working in St. Joseph County Probate Court under Judge Thomas Shumaker. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton announced Sylvester as the recipient of the 28th …

Rob Olsen, who retired last year as superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, has been named to the Michigan Association of School Administrators Hall of Fame. The award recognizes a career of outstanding leadership and dedication. The 63-year-old Olsen, who currently works part time as an administrator for Portage Public Schools, was a unanimous selection by his peers from the region …

An art professor at Glen Oaks Community College has been selected as the recipient of the annual E.J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award. Michael Northrop, who joined the Centreville-area college in 2000 and became a full-time faculty member in 2005, was announced the 28th winner of the award. Northrop teaches art history, object drawing, two-dimensional design and several other …

Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste and a number of recyclable materials was declared a success by event organizers. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management Planning Committee, the twice-a-year collection at the county fairgrounds resulted in an accumulation of 454 tires, 12,000 pounds of household hazardous waste items and 27,000 pounds of electronics – enough to fill …