News

The Three Rivers Artists Guild has added two new members following a five-member artists jury review of the artwork of the two applicants last weekend. The artists, Ann Barnhart and Denise Hiestand, were subsequently voted to join the Guild. Barnhart, an emerging artist in Kalamazoo and Hiestand, a Jones resident, displayed their artwork and explained their background, ideas and artistic …

More information regarding Sturgis Hospital’s next course of action following Monday’s dismissal of Rob LaBarge as CEO has been provided by John Mayer, chairman of the hospital board. Mayer will oversee daily operations until an interim leader can be found and he has offered to serve in the role without compensation. He said the board will first seek a purchaser …

From the perspective of a snow-plow operator for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, this week’s weather was actually considered mild, according to agency director John Lindsey. In his first winter as manager of the Centreville-based road commission, Lindsey said the snowfall this week was not major compared to other winter storms he and his crews have experienced in years …

Here is an updated list of warming centers in the area: KeyStone Place in Centreville open 24 hours; Salvation Army in Sturgis 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Bethel Baptist Church in Three Rivers, call as needed; Fairview Nursing Home in Centreville 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sturges-Young Civic Auditorium; Firm Foundation Ministries in Centreville; and Immaculate Conception in Three Rivers, …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has advised residents not to shovel or plow snow into the road. Agency officials caution residents to avoid the “second shovel” of having the ends of driveways shut with snow after a plow passes. Officials say the best way to avoid having to shovel a second time is to clear an area to the …

John Castle, Southern Michigan Bank & Trust Chairman and CEO recently announced the promotions of officers Eric Anglin and Matt Moses. Anglin was promoted to Senior Vice President, Retail Banking Services/Chief Deposit Officer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Tiffin University, and joined the bank in 2010. He advanced to the position of First Vice President, where he …

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke advises that stuck vehicles blocking plows and current road conditions in Cass County are making travel unsafe.    Cass County area is experiencing near-blizzard conditions.  Frequent whiteouts, resulting in slide offs and stuck vehicles are causing dangerous road conditions for traveling emergency crews and road commission plows, in addition to record low wind chills and temperatures adding to life …

Sturgis Hospital has fired Rob LaBarge, its president and CEO. Little information is available about the situation other than the action took place during the hospital board’s monthly meeting Monday. Longtime hospital administrator John Mayer will replace LaBarge in an interim capacity until a permanent replacement can be found. LaBarge has been under scrutiny after the hospital announced in late …

Chris Gerbers has been selected as principal at Sturgis Middle School. Gerbers has served 16 years as an administrator, teacher and coach for the past 16 years in Indiana. He had been a school administrator the past 11 years and comes to Sturgis from Hamilton, Ind., where he served as junior and senior high school principal the past three years. Gerbers …

A project at Glen Oaks Community College has turned into an award-winning undertaking. College president David Devier said Jones and Henry Engineers, Frederick Construction, and Glen Oaks Community College received the “Public Works Project of the Year — Environmental” award by the American Public Works Association, Southwestern Michigan Branch. Supplying and treating water for the new Devier Student Suites became …