News

Two weeks after she was recognized for giving her final annual report as county clerk, Pattie Bender was once again the center of attention Tuesday. The 64-year-old Bender was saluted as Tuesday was the final county commission meeting before her June 30 retirement. The fanfare included a resolution in her honor, and gifts of a watch from the courthouse employees …

Members of the Colon Community Schools Board of Education have decided to pursue a permanent, full-time superintendent. The decision, made at Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, means the proposal of working out a deal with Bronson Community Schools to share the services of its superintendent, Teresa Belote, is temporarily off the table. Board member Rebecca Stoll said as long as …

A Three Rivers man was charged with drug-related offenses after a search warrant was executed last week by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Investigators on June 9 served a search warrant in the 200 block of East Michigan Avenue in the city of Three Rivers. SCAN investigators were alerted after Three Rivers officers were called to the location …

Members of the Mendon Community Schools Board of Education agreed this week to hire Roger Rathburn on an interim basis for the 2015-16 academic year. During its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, the board supported a motion that will bring aboard Rathburn to replace Rob Kuhlman. The Mendon board earlier this year voted 4-3 to not renew Kuhlman’s contract, a measure …

A 1-year-old Mendon boy was treated for minor injuries following a two-vehicle accident last week in Mendon Township. Sheriff’s deputies said Brayden Wolf was in a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Amy Jo Cooley, also of Mendon. Cooley was driving south on Silver Street at 2:30 p.m. June 10 when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Carroll Haas, …

A village president in Michigan is trying to ban recordings at the community’s offices and the surrounding grounds, prompting opposition from those who don’t want restrictions at the public building. Just before the end of a recent council meeting, Goodrich Village Council President Mark Baldwin announced a ban on recordings. The announcement was met with talk of a lawsuit and …

Prosecutors in western Michigan have charged a Calhoun County sheriff’s deputy with drunken driving and attempted resisting and obstructing police. The Kalamazoo Gazette and WOOD-TV report that the deputy also was charged Tuesday with failing to stop at a crash scene and possessing a firearm while under the influence. Police in Kalamazoo say the deputy crashed her vehicle into a …

Thirty-one years ago on Memorial Day, Phil Rolffs decorated his father’s grave at Fort Custer National Cemetery and noticed the barren resting places of 26 German prisoners of war. “The (cemetery) was very festive looking, every grave had a flag, and many had floral arrangements,” Rolffs told the Kalamazoo Gazette. “Then we noticed the German graves, they were very forlorn …

Clarity was shed on a number of issues over which some members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners had reservations related to the Commission on Aging Enhancement Center. The Sturgis facility was at the core of discussions during last week’s executive committee meeting. All five county commissioners were present and were joined by Commission on Aging executive director …

Anticipating a loss of parking with a likely addition to the west side of its courts building, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is hoping to secure a new parking area at a nearby parcel. Members of the county board during a work session last week agreed to continue discussions with a property owner at 205 Dean St. in …