Schools

White Pigeon Area Community Foundation, a geographic affiliate of Sturgis Area Community Foundation, recently approved $7,600 in grant awards during its 2015 competitive-grant program. The Adele M. Gray Fund awarded $4,500 to the White Pigeon Caring Families for community and program support. The Fund for White Pigeon also provided grant support to White Pigeon Caring Families with a $1,000 grant. …

With today the opening of the 2015-16 academic year for Michigan’s public schools, State Rep. Aaron Miller is encouraging parents to discuss bus-safety with their children and urging drivers to be aware of school-bus laws. Miller said parents should include a discussion about bus safety as part of the back-to-school routine with their children. Also, parents whose children walk to …

As you read all the print news reports and listen to all the TV news bites in recent times, it would seem that the value of a college education is not what it used to be. This is not the case according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center. The report states that, “The earnings gap between young …

A recall effort in which a trio of Three Rivers Board of Education members has been targeted appears to have reached a conclusion. County clerk Lindsay Oswald said the minimum number of valid signatures required for the recall to appear before voters in the November election fell short on all three petitions. A minimum of 1,165 valid signatures was necessary …

The bear is back. A 9-foot stuffed polar bear returned to Michigan State University on Tuesday after spending the summer with a taxidermist. It was the first time the bear had been away from the lobby of the Natural Resources Building since 1966. The Lansing State Journal says the bear has clean white fur, a new jaw and new pads …

Glen Oaks Community College announced last week it has entered into a partnership with Michigan State University to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Business degree with a concentration in Agricultural Operations. The partnership allows students to earn a certificate from the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology while working toward an associate’s degree from Glen Oaks. The agreement, according …

Glen Oaks Community College announced last week it has entered into a partnership with Goshen College to bring its Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to the Centreville campus. Glen Oaks president David Devier said the demand for the nursing workforce to hold a bachelor’s degree continues to grow. The Goshen College RN to BSN program is …

Temporary substitute teachers hired by all St. Joseph County school districts will get a $5-per-day pay hike beginning this fall. The St. Joseph County Intermediate School District Board of Education this week approved the pay scales for everyone from substitute teachers to fill-in maintenance workers. Temporary classroom substitute teachers will be paid $85 for a full day in the classroom …

Organizers of a circus coming to Constantine Sunday are issuing a reminder that the cost of tickets is less if purchased in advance rather than the day of. Show times for the Kelly Miller Circus are 2 and 5 p.m.at Eastside Elementary. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children. They are available at the village office, Constantine …

The contracts of two administrators were approved during Monday’s Three Rivers Board of Education meeting. Nikki Nash will serve as interim principal at Three Rivers Middle School, while Ben McIntyre will be the interim principal at Andrews Elementary. Nash, 40, spent nine years as a third-grade teacher at Andrews and the past four as its principal. Her salary as interim …