News

A 20-year veteran has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the Three Rives Community Schools Board of Education. During a special meeting last week, board members selected Susan Schmidtendorff to fill the remaining term created by Dave Kutz’s vacancy. Kutz recently resigned his seat, citing conflicts with work. Six people in all applied for the spot, though Dan Tomlinson …

Organizers of the 59th Three Rivers Water Festival are calling the three-day celebration a success. Christy Trammell, director of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, said strong crowds were a part of the festival starting with Thursday’s opening-night parade and concluding with Saturday’s event-ending fireworks display. Trammell said ideal weather and a variety of activities were beneficial to the …

A 30-year-old Jones woman entered a plea of no contest in a case related to an early-morning arson at a Three Rivers business last year. Fawn Mott appeared in St. Joseph County Circuit Court last week on a charge of arson, third degree, from a June 23 incident at the Three Rivers Walmart. Judge Paul Stutesman revoked Mott’s $50,000 bond …

St. Joseph County and its Commission on Aging will break ground at 9 a.m. Tuesday for the senior service agency’s new Sturgis facility. Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, said the amount of monthly rent her agency will pay for space in the new South County Community Enrichment Center still has not been set. Last week, however, Coursey told her board …

Narcotics Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant last week on East Main Street in Sturgis. SCAN officers received information about a residence in the 700 block that was reported to have illegal drug activity. After further investigation officers were able to obtain a search warrant. Officers subsequently found methamphetamine and numerous items associated …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is advising the public to be aware of a phone scam reported this week by a Fabius Township resident. Deputies were dispatched Tuesday to the 56000 Block of Shady Lane for a complaint regarding fraud. The victim told authorities she was contacted over the phone and told she and her spouse were being pursued …

A former Three Rivers High School teacher who had pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor embezzlement was sentenced Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Judge Robert Pattison sentenced Sara Freeman, 33, to 180 days in the St. Joseph County jail. Freeman, a Burr Oak resident, will serve 120 days of the sentence, with 60 days deferred. She …

White Pigeon’s citizens of the year will be announced Saturday during the White Pigeon Township Library’s kick off of its Summertime Tunes series. The band Sugar Shot will perform 2 to 4 p.m. at Wade Park. Library director Perri Saunders said the citizens of the year will be revealed during intermission. There is no charge to attend the concert, which …

Four staff members were the latest victims of Colon Community Schools’ financial woes. Members of the district’s board of education Monday laid off science teacher Darrin VandenBerg, social studies teacher Matt Swanwick, English and Spanish teacher Staci Hofer, and early childhood special education teacher Erin Gose. VandenBerg, a 10-year employee and former athletic director, also coached the school’s varsity football …

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 …