News

A tumultuous situation involving the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education has been resolved. Board members this week agreed to a financial settlement with Kevin Hamilton, former administrator of educational services at Three Rivers Middle School. Hamilton and two other administrators were let go following the 2014-15 academic year. They subsequently filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, …

A Sturgis man was arrested on a number of offenses after he was caught stealing a potted plant from a resident’s yard earlier this week. According to a department media release, a homeowner witnessed the theft at 2:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of South Fourth Street. The homeowner was able to get a good description of the suspect …

Five people were reappointed to the St. Joseph County Commission On Aging Board during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Returning to serve two-year terms are: Jon Withers of Florence Township, Stephen Boland of Klinger Lake, Margaret Shultz of Lockport Township and Ed Stemen of Fawn River Township. In addition, Joe Heivilin was re-appointed to the 11-member board, but his term is …

Michigan officials say propane users should lock in fuel prices now, even though heating season is months away. The Michigan Agency for Energy says U.S. propane stocks are slightly higher now than they were a year ago. But they’re 27 percent below levels seen in 2016. Executive Director Anne Armstrong Cusack says customers should sign contracts soon instead of waiting …

Glen Oaks Community College will go to voters with a millage request in November. The college’s board of trustees last week agreed to move forward with a proposal for the five-year, half-mill request. The vote follows months of planning and community input. If approved, the millage would address situations including: renovating outdated technology laboratories and reconfiguring spaces to support workforce …

The Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers will host a candidate forum later this month. Sponsored by River Country Solidarity and the St. Joseph County Democratic Party, the forum starts at 5:30 p.m. with a meet-and-greet event. At 6:15 p.m., a session with 6th Congressional District candidates will begin. Candidates planning to attend are David Benac, Rich Eicholz, George Franklin …

When final figures become available, it’s likely that the 2018 Lake and Home Tour – sponsored by the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce – will show it drew fewer people compared to the 2017 inaugural event. Chamber director Christy Trammell said mid-afternoon rain Saturday was clearly the culprit. This year’s tour was offered on Sturgeon and Palmer lakes in …

Michigan Department of Transportation workers this week started a chip-seal project on U.S. 12 in the city of Sturgis, and Fawn River and Burr Oak townships. The $570,000 job started Monday and begins at Franks Avenue in Sturgis, working its way east to the Branch County line. MDOT Officials said the new surface will extend the life of the road …

Speed and alcohol are likely factors in a crash that left two Indiana residents dead from a weekend incident in Mottville Township, authorities said. St. Joseph County Sheriff deputies said Richard Spicher, 32 of Middlebury, and Brittany Wolcott, 30, of Shipshewana, were pronounced dead at the scene. The one-vehicle crash occurred around 9 p.m. Sunday on U.S. 131, between Indian …

An Indiana man power-washing the exterior of a southwestern Michigan church has died after coming into contact with an electrical line. The contracted employee was in a bucket lift Saturday afternoon outside St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Cassopolis when he was electrocuted. Police say the 65-year-old man was from Bremen, south of South Bend. His name has not been released.  …