News

Over the objections of a vocal opponent and despite concerns from a pair of its members, Three Rivers City Commission has authorized design, bidding and construction-engineering services related to a proposed youth sports complex. Tuesday’s action allocates more than $300,000 to Kalamazoo-based Virdis Design Group. The decision came after resident Kathy Bingaman questioned whether it was premature to act on …

State Rep. Aaron Miller announced this week he will seek re-election to a third, two-year term in 2018. Though he was just re-elected in November to serve a term that began in January and concludes in December 2018, Miller said this week’s announcement ultimately lays to rest the possibility that he would vie for the seat of the 21st District …

A White Pigeon Township worker was injured Monday when he fell into a chlorination tank at the White Pigeon water treatment facility. Authorities said the man was cleaning the empty tank around 4 p.m. when he fell about 12 feet to the concrete floor. He suffered a severe leg injury, according to authorities. The man was trapped in a confined …

March’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was seven-tenths of a percent lower than one month previous. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.5 percent March unemployment rate marked a decrease from February’s 4.2 percent. St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 4.8 percent in March. …

Glen Oaks Community College has announced the promotion of Morgan Balcom to head women’s basketball coach. Balcom takes the reins after Michael Mosley stepped down from the position in early February. Balcom has fielded the head-coaching responsibilities in an interim role since that time. “Morgan has done an exceptional job since being put in a tough position in February,” according …

State police investigators are looking into the breaking-and-entering of a residence around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday last week in the 58000 block of Covered Bridge Road. The suspects are believed to have gained access to a garage and shed by going through the back yard of the residence. Multiple totes full of items were reported stolen as well as a bench …

The St. Joseph County Grange Fair is beginning a program to replace its decades-old trees with new ones starting this year. Fair manager Bill Johnson said a common scene in photographs of the St. Joseph County Grange Fairgrounds from its earliest years to current times is the numerous trees that surround the property. These same trees are now being replaced …

The longest-serving probation officer in St. Joseph County’s history is the recipient of the 2017 St. Joseph County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award. Steve Wilson, who is retiring following a 40-year career as a probation officer with the Michigan Department of Corrections, was announced Thursday as the winner of the award, first given in May 1985. A Sturgis resident, Wilson …

Two members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board of St. Joseph County were excluded from Tuesday’s executive session because they were not attending in person. Rebecca Black and Janelle Hart joined the meeting at its onset via speaker phone. When it came time to discuss an attorney-client matter subject to closed session, board member John Dobberteen …

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week voted in favor of the state budget, joining his colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee in approving the fiscal blueprint and sending it to the full House for consideration. Miller, who serves as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said local K-12 classrooms will see more money and local governments will see …