News

A chilly spring? That would be fine with the folks in Holland in western Michigan, where tulips are celebrated during a May festival. Many plants already are poking through the ground, part of the 425,000 tulip bulbs planted last fall. Tulip Time marketing director Susan Zalnis says she can’t believe she’s “cheering” for cool weather, which would slow down the …

St. Joseph County’s rivers are in store for a major clearing, as commissioners this week approved a $15,000 request for removal of deadfall. Conservation district director Carolyn Grace said the funds are necessary to address a number of trees that fell over and into the river during the fall and winter months. Grace said various stretches of the county’s six …

The Three Rivers German Band will start rehearsals April 4 for the coming summer season. Rehearsals take place 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Light and Life Wesleyan Church, 15765 Hoffman Road, Three Rivers. The band plays up to nine concerts each summer and several new songs have been added to its repertoire for this year, including “The Happy Trombone …

A memorandum of understanding with the city of Three Rivers was approved this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The matter centers on shared maintenance of a proposed non-motorized pedestrian trail from South Health Parkway in Three Rivers to Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. Specifically, the agreement calls for each entity to address litter, weed control, …

A Delton man wanted on a warrant from Kalamazoo County faces additional charges after he attempted to flee from a Schoolcraft officer this week. Chief Bryan Campbell said a patrol sergeant conducted a traffic stop at 4 p.m. Tuesday on West VW Avenue, near 16th Street, after the driver was observed speeding in the village. During the course of the …

A $10 million project is planned to transform a former foundry building just east of downtown Kalamazoo into a campus-like office space. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Kalamazoo-based Treystar plans to convert the building for office and other uses, including on-site dining. The company says it plans to upgrade the building while preserving it and paying homage to its past. Built …

St. Joseph County’s plan to establish itself as a premier location for softball tournaments and other outdoor sporting events was solidified Tuesday, when county commissioners approved more than $1.6 million in funding toward a four-field complex in Sturgis. The financial commitment to Sturgis officials came exactly six months after it allocated $2.8 million to the city of Three Rivers for …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Jean Logan said the district has established a partnership with the Detroit Lions for a summer football camp. Logan said the high school will host the two-day event starting June 11. The camp is for students 6 through 14 years of age. She said students from all neighboring districts are encouraged to attend the event, …

A Florence Township man who came up short in his bid for the county’s board of commissioners two years ago, announced he will try again. Tim Carls, a 55-year-old, full-time farmer, will run as a Democrat in the primary election Aug. 2. If he is unopposed in the primary, Carls will be a candidate in November’s general election. Carls is …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel said 171 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control permits were issued in 2015, a figure he presented during his annual report Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Other information Wenzel shared included the fact that 25 drain-maintenance permits were authorized to local farmers and constituents last year. The maintenance work was …