News

Sunny weather and a large crowd on hand to see this year’s headline entertainment contributed to a successful opening day of the St. Joseph County Grange Fair Sunday. The 165th fair was busy from the start of the day and remained steady throughout the afternoon and evening, fair officials said. Thousands of people crowded into the grandstand to see and …

Nearly 100 people took part in Saturday’s third Colon Historic Home and Business Tour, a fundraiser staged every other year by the Colon Historical Society. The Leonidas Stone School was one of nine stops on the self-guided tour. Participants were able to visit as many or few locations as they wished. Cheyl Engle, a member of the historical society and …

Any of the 14,000-plus articles assembled by a Three Rivers icon over a five-year period can now be accessed at the Three Rivers Public Library. A kiosk to view the full River Country Journal catalog, from its inception in 2008 to its final days before the August 2013 passing of its creator, Bruce Snook, is available. A ceremony to honor …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced that single-lane closures will take place beginning today on the Business Route 131 bridge over the St. Joseph River in downtown Constantine. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said the work, which will include beam repair and painting, is scheduled to continue through Nov. 1. Schirripa said the cost of the project is nearly $400,000.

Glen Oaks Community College has announced that Bill Lederman is the school’s new director of nursing. A Sturgis resident, Lederman was raised in the Mendon area and graduated from Colon High School. As a professor at the college, Lederman has completed his 29th year as full-time nursing faculty, teaching courses in Nursing Role Transitions, Ethics, Pharmacology and Leadership as well …

The Three Rivers board of education has a new president. Waneta Truckey was named to the post after Mike Bosma indicated during Monday’s meeting his resignation from the position. Bosma, however, will remain on the board but in the capacity of a trustee. Truckey, the board’s vice president prior to her promotion, was elected to the seven-member panel in 2004. …

The Constantine Area Community Foundation, a geographic affiliate of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation, is accepting grant proposals from qualifying entities: 501(c) 3 organizations, public schools and governmental units for its 2015 fall grant period. Areas of focus for the Constantine Area Community Foundation include improvement of living and working conditions for the citizens of Constantine; youth and recreation; public, …

Six people, including four juveniles, were injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in Sturgis Township. Sheriff’s officials said a 28-year-old Sturgis woman was southbound at a stop sign on Balk Road and attempted to turn east onto Fawn River Road, when she turned into the path of a westbound pickup driven by a 20-year-old Sturgis man; the pickup crashed into …

Supporters of a proposed multi-field sports complex in the Three Rivers area cleared a sizable obstacle Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners allocated financial support toward the concept. With the exception of Robin Baker, commissioners agreed to provide $2.8 million of $4 million the sports complex steering committee originally sought to purchase additional land and …

St. Joseph County county’s parks system is about to add an unprecedentedly scenic property to its portfolio. Members of the county commission Tuesday agreed to the $330,000 purchase of a six-acre parcel that includes 1,000 feet of shoreline in Lockport Township. The parcel is north of the Langley Covered Bridge and on the east side of Covered Bridge Road. Parks …