News

A Michigan doctor who came to the U.S. from Poland as a young child was in jail Monday, nearly a week after immigration agents arrested him at his home. It’s not clear why Lukasz Niec, 43, was taken into custody last Tuesday. Niec is a legal U.S. resident who works at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He has two misdemeanor …

An effort is underway to allow Michigan voters to cast an absentee ballot for any or no reason. A coalition that includes civil libertarians and political activists filed ballot language Monday with the state. If approved, the next step would be a campaign to collect 316,000 signatures to get the issue on the fall ballot. The proposed amendment to Michigan’s …

Cass County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a two-vehicle accident that occurred last week in Calvin Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 3 p.m. Thursday to the 17000 block of Chain Lake Street. Investigators said a 16-year old Cassopolis girl lost control of her car while driving eastbound and came upon a patch of ice. Her vehicle crossed …

Quorum Health Resources recently announced Three Rivers Health as a winner of the Excellence in Leadership awards. Three Rivers Health received the award for “Most Improved Performance” in the Under $100 million revenue category. Interim CEO David Shannon said TR Health has increased its operating margin by refocusing its efforts to more efficiently manage labor and supply costs. Meanwhile, QHR …

Constantine Middle School Prinicpal Ray Bohm said the school recently purchased a set of Chromebooks thanks to a grant from Pioneer Giving. Bohm, who applied for the grant earlier this year, said the 18 Chromebooks will increase student achievements, provide the ability to access curriculum independently and assist students to work collaboratively with teachers on assignments and projects. School counselor Steffany …

An elderly man and his daughter had sought help to get their furnace fixed days before their bodies were found inside a cold southwestern Michigan home The South Bend Tribune in Indiana reports 81-year-old Albert Bivins and 55-year-old Patricia Bivins had visited the Ferry Street Resource Center in Niles, to get help with their furnace after it stopped working. Director …

Members of the Jackson County Intermediate School District Board of Education this week hired Jean Logan to a newly created position. Logan, whose resignation as superintendent of Three Rivers Community Schools was accepted by its board Wednesday, will serve as early college administrator for what is described as the ISD’s Learning Services Team. Her employment was approved by the Jackson …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that took place earlier this week in Sturgis Township. Troopers were called Monday to the Memory Lane trailer park, in the 25000 block of U.S. 12, where a residence was burglarized between 4 a.m. and 1 p.m. A laptop computer and undisclosed amount of money were stolen during the break in, according to …

The Michigan Strategic Fund has awarded a grant to the city of Three Rivers for preservation of historic downtown buildings. State Rep. Aaron Miller announced the news Thursday. The $365,000 Community Development Block Grant will provide funds for blight elimination and historic preservation needed for the proposed Landmark Taphouse and Grille project. The project is expected to generate nearly $1 …

A preliminary report from the October “Count Day” shows school enrollment is slightly up in the county overall, from 10,652 students in 2016 to 10,712 students. Three Rivers Community Schools had the biggest jump, up 87 students, from 2,623 in 2016 to 2,710 in 2017. Mendon Community Schools experienced the biggest dip in enrollment, down 42 students from 581 in …