Schools

Ren Hartung, professor of science at Glen Oaks Community College, has received the Trends in Occupational Studies Outstanding Educator award. College officials said Hartung was nominated for his work and excellence within the classroom, professional achievements and service to the college. He recently accepted the award at the annual Trends Conference in Traverse City. Hartung is said to be engaged …

No children were injured after a school bus was rear-ended Thursday morning in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 6:50 a.m. to the intersection of M-66 and Wait Road, where a Sturgis Public Schools bus was struck from behind by a pickup. The pickup was driven by a 53-year-old East Leroy man, according to deputies. A department media release …

The St. Joseph County Election Commission ruled Wednesday that wording in petitions to recall a trio of Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members showed sufficient clarity in stating the reasons for the attempted recall of Diana DeGraaf, Pete Bennett and Erin Nowak. At the conclusion of the 20-minute session at the county courthouse, commission chair and probate judge …

A White Pigeon High School student has been arrested on a terrorism charge after allegedly making threats last week at school. Phillip Duane Stephenson, 18, is accused of making what school officials call threats to building safety. Stephenson has been suspended indefinitely, officials said. White Pigeon Superintendent Jon Keyer said he and school administrators determined valid statements were made and …

St. Joseph County’s lone remaining representative in the high school football playoffs was eliminated Saturday. Constantine, which eked into the playoffs with a 5-4 record, bowed out in a 35-34 overtime loss to undefeated Grand Rapids North Pointe Christian in the Division 6 regional title contest. The Falcons forced overtime on their final possession of regulation, then went for the …

A Division 6 regional title is on the line this weekend, when Constantine attempts to join the Final Four in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s football playoffs. The 7-4 Falcons will take on 11-0 Grand Rapids North Pointe Christian at 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon at Comstock Park High School. Constantine has rolled in the playoffs, knocking off undefeated Schoolcraft …

Events this week are marking the 10th anniversary of the Kalamazoo Promise free-tuition program. The anonymously funded plan, announced in the fall of 2005, pays the college tuition of students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools in Michigan. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports PromiseNet 2015 takes place Tuesday through Thursday. The conference brings together communities emulating the Kalamazoo Promise. Education and …

Voters in Burr Oak Community Schools were in a generous mood Tuesday, as a sinking-fund millage was approved by nearly a three-to-two margin. The 3-mill, five-year sinking fund request was supported by a vote of 116 in favor to 71 opposed. Tuesday’s request is identical to what was on the ballot in the May 5 election, when voters defeated the …

Three of the area’s four state football playoff teams bowed out in the opening round of action Friday. The fourth, Constantine, pulled off an upset in topping previously unbeaten and state No. 2-ranked Schoolcraft. Constantine’s Tristian Butler kicked an overtime field goal to lift the Falcons over the Eagles, 31-28, in Division 6 action. Elsewhere, Mendon saw its 27-game win …

Members of the group TR Cares plan to assemble a slate of candidates for the local school board and a county position in elections next year. During what was promoted as a town-hall meeting Tuesday at the JOCO Center in Three Rivers, attorney Kelly Ward addressed more than 60 people who heard a recap of the timeline related to an …