Schools

The Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education has adopted the 2013-2014 Preliminary Budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1. The action came Monday evening (June 17) following a public hearing during which there were no citizen comments. The budget projects revenues of $23,781,274 and expenditures of $24, 656,659, thus showing a revenue shortfall of $875,386. The resolution …

The Chiefs mascot in White Pigeon appears to be safe following a federal decision to dismiss a case in which the use of Native American names and images would be banned in 35 Michigan school districts. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights had sought the ban, which would have included White Pigeon’s use of Chiefs as the school mascot. The …

The non-profit, Three Rivers-based organization *culture is not optional (*cino) has completed its purchase of the former Huss Elementary School in Three Rivers. As noted in a Tuesday (June 11) post on The Huss Project website, “As of today at 3:15 p.m., we signed the final papers and received the deed to the historic Huss School building in Three Rivers, …

A 12-year member of the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education announced her resignation last week. LeeAnn McConnell, who did not elaborate on the reason for her resignation, was serving a term due to expire in November 2014. The board must fill McConnell’s spot within 30 days of her date of resignation. A district resident wishing to complete McConnell’s term …

The 2013 Sturgis Relay for Life event begins this afternoon, as cancer survivors and participants walking in memory of a cancer victim will assemble a Sturgis High School’s track. The event starts at 3 p.m., with a number of special laps planned. At 6 o’clock, cancer survivors will walk a victory lap and a luminaire ceremony starts at 10, when …

Sturgis Public Schools athletics director Mark Adams said the district is expressing an interest in joining the Wolverine Conference athletic league. Although the concept is in its infancy, Adams said Sturgis is aware the conference is interested in adding at least one other team, with the impending departure of Comstock. A Wolverine Conference meeting is expected to take place next …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn is a finalist for the superintendent’s position with Portage Public Schools. Rathburn, who has been planning to retire from Three Rivers a year from now, is one of a trio of candidates for the Portage post currently held in an interim basis by Rob Olsen. Portage school officials have indicated first-round interviews will …

A Dowagiac teen is dead after suffering a self inflicted gunshot wound. Police were called to Dowagiac Middle School at 6:40 a.m. Monday morning, because a custodian saw a boy acting strangely outside the building. When police arrived 13-year old Darren James Price of Dowagiac ran into a wooded area near the school. Police surrounded the area, then heard a …

A Three Rivers High School graduate planning to attend Grand Valley State University was named the recipient of the 12th Ron Reece Scholarship. Lizzy Skalski, a 2013 high school graduate, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, renewable annually for a total of four years. Named in honor of the late Three Rivers Community Schools superintendent, the Ron Reece Memorial Scholarship is …

A gathering of school officials and residents Wednesday in the White Pigeon Community Schools applauded the ceremonial groundbreaking of improvement slated to take place at the district’s two schools. The event kicks off what will be a variety of building and design improvements at the district’s two school buildings over the next five years. The balance of the work this …