Schools

Steve Proefrock, head men’s basketball coach at Glen Oaks Community College, has been awarded the Men’s Junior College Coach of the Year award from the statewide Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. In his 16th season at Glen Oaks, Proefrock led his team to the Western Conference Championship with a conference season record of 15-and-1, and an overall record of 27-and-4. …

The four remaining schools from the St. Joseph Valley League athletic conference are expected to join a newly created, 10-team league. The Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference was announced this week during the Bronson Community Schools Board of Education meeting. The new league, which will include SJV members Centreville, Bronson, White Pigeon and Mendon, will debut in the 2014-15 academic year. Other …

Nine custodial jobs with Sturgis Public Schools will be outsourced to a Holland-based company, following action by the district’s board of education Monday. The nine employees will have an opportunity to join Enviro-Clean, which will cost the district about $500,000 next year. The current contract with district-employed custodians is in excess of $700,000, district officials said. The new contract, which …

Nearly two dozen Sturgis High School graduates-to-be were recipients of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation Scholarship Reception for 2013. The recent program featured scholarship recipients and representatives from the families who helped make the awards possible. Close to $110,000 was awarded to students in educational and camp scholarship awards. Since 1999, more than 650 students have received in excess of …

Officials from school districts in Three Rivers and White Pigeon saw non-homestead millage renewals pass with ease Tuesday. In Three Rivers, nearly two-thirds of the 612 participating voters OK’d an 18-mill renewal levied to the tax bills of commercial and non-homestead properties. The millage generates nearly $3.7 million annually and represents about 15 percent of the district’s annual budget. White …

Glen Oaks Community College President Gary Wheeler announced Steve Ryno as the recipient of the Shaheen Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes a faculty member for innovation and quality instruction. A professor of communications, Ryno, 35, is the 29th recipient of the award. Ryno was named the winner of the award during the school’s 45th graduation ceremony, staged Friday in its …

A trio of men who fled from police in Three Rivers earlier this week were arraigned in district court Wednesday. William Powell, 23, Antonio Hearn, 20, and Charles Hearn, 21, face a variety of charges following the Monday night incident in which one of the men held his 6-month-old son while fleeing from police. All three men, originally from Ohio, …

Sturgis High School went into lockdown Thursday as a precautionary measure after a student reported overhearing a possible act of violence. Superintendent Tom Langdon said the action was employed based on what the student reported to school officials. It prompted what Langdon called a Phase One security measure, considered a low-level threat. Based on a student’s report to the principal …

St. Joseph County has renewed a law-enforcement agreement its sheriff’s department has with two governmental entities. County commissioners this week approved contracts between the county and the village of Centreville, and Fabius Township. The village and township receive law enforcement, including routine patrol, from the sheriff’s department rather than establishing their own police agencies. The agreement with Centreville is for …

Glen Oaks Community College has announced registration for the 2013 spring/summer and the fall semesters is underway. Spring/summer semester classes begin May 13 and fall classes start Aug. 26. Students are encouraged to register early to ensure they receive class schedules at times they prefer. Class schedules are available at the college, mailed upon request or online at glenoaks.edu. Financial …