News

Organizers of last month’s Three Rivers Area Mentoring’s annual walleye dinner and silent auction report the event was a success. The $17-per-person meal was held March 23. TRAM Executive Director Todd Bannon said more than $5,000 was raised after expenses. He said about 150 people took part and more than 80 items were donated for the silent auction. Proceeds from …

A Three Rivers teacher and a paraprofessional were recently recognized by the St. Joseph County Parent Advisory Committee. Young 5s teacher Brea Bennett was honored as PAC’s “Teacher of the Year,” while Nichole Sturwold was named “Support Staff Employee of the Year.” They received recognition April 8 at Andrews Elementary by PAC member Tawnya Fleckenstein. Bennett and Sturwold will be …

Volunteers will fan out across lower Michigan starting this weekend to give state highway roadsides their first cleaning of 2024. The program began in Michigan in 1990. Today, around 2,900 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway. In a typical year, volunteers collect 60,000 to 70,000 bags of trash, an estimated $5 million value for the state. …

Here’s a reminder that the second phase of U.S. 131 roadwork begins Monday in southern Kalamazoo County. Michigan Department of Transportation’s Nick Schirripa said the work will impact traffic flow in and around the village of Schoolcraft, as well as at a key intersection further north at Shaver Road. The seven-month project comes after MDOT crews in 2023 completed the …

St. Joseph County Department of Health and Human Services is staging a promotional campaign in hopes of securing residents interested in serving as foster parents. Agency officials said there are 112 children in foster care in the county but only 27 licensed foster homes. Furthermore, there are only seven foster homes licensed for children over the age of 13. DHHS …

Waste Management has announced it will continue its Styrofoam recycling opportunities in 2024. The next quarterly collection is 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 11 at Westside Landfill Recycling Center, 60050 Roberts Road, Three Rivers. The recycling station is on the east side of the landfill. There is no charge and acceptable items include dinnerware, take-out containers, meat and fish trays, …

Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-car crash over the weekend in Milton Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 10 p.m. Saturday to the intersection of Redfield Street and Kline Road. Investigators said 67-year-old Virginia resident Mary Corbett was driving south on Kline Road. Corbett allegedly crossed Redfield Street without checking cross traffic. Behnke said her …

This morning at 5:38am, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to US-131 near Wilbur Road (North junction) for a report of a car vs. pedestrian traffic crash. Once on scene, Three Rivers and Fabius Fire Departments provided medical attention to a 39-year-old male. Deputies interviewed motorists in two separate vehicles which had struck the pedestrian on the south bound lane …

An Indiana man was injured in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend in Cass County’s Milton Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 8 p.m. Friday to U.S. 12 and Conrad Road in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators said 55-year-old James Harker Jr., of Osceola, Ind., apparently fell asleep while driving. His vehicle left the roadway …

A long-time White Pigeon village employee died last week following a brief illness. Oliver “Dutch” Baker passed away March 28. He served as White Pigeon Police chief from 1995 to 2015. Baker, who was 73, was a Dowagiac High School graduate and previously a member of Howard Township Police Department before he accepted the job in White Pigeon. He also …