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Sturgis city commissioners last week discussed a special-use request, currently before the city planning commission, which would create a rental duplex out of a single-family home. Opinions were split on whether the city should hold the line on duplexes to encourage more owner-occupied homes or expand residential rental opportunities. The commission will ask the planning commission to review current ordinances …

A campaign by Three Rivers Community Schools to promote a sinking-fund millage request in May kicked off this week. Superintendent Jean Logan said the district is seeking 1.95 mills over an eight-year period. If approved, the request would generate $1.25 million a year for building and site improvements, safety and security, and technology infrastructure. She said the sinking-fund request is …

Anyone who did not enroll in a health insurance plan during the Marketplace open-enrollment period may have a reprieve. The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have added a special enrollment period for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and may be required to pay the shared responsibility …

Details about the St. Joseph County College Access Network were provided recently during a meeting of the St. Joseph County School Board Association. Tracy Harker and Claudia Pahls reported that the College Access Network, which stems from Sturgis Public Schools’ SUCCESS program and strives to help students find their way to college, is now a countywide program thanks to the …

A Mendon High School senior has made a commitment to continue his football career by signing a letter of intent to play at Central Michigan University. Logan Slaughter, a four-year starter for the Hornets, is the second player under Coach John Schwartz to play for a Division I school. Slaughter plans to major in psychology and has expressed an interest …

The City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services would like to advise our residents that water services are again beginning to freeze this winter. One of the key signs of a water service beginning to freeze is rusty water. We are again encouraging residents to trickle their water to prevent freezing, especially those that experienced a frozen water service …

An initiative that awards college tuition to Kalamazoo high school graduates is celebrating its 10th anniversary and nearly 4,000 scholarships. The Kalamazoo Promise has offered full-tuition scholarships since 2005 to students who spend kindergarten through 12th grade in the city’s public school district. High school graduates are able to attend any community college, public university and a select group of …

Five candidates hoping to land the 18-month appointment of county clerk and register of deeds were interviewed Wednesday. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, who will ultimately select the appointed successor to Pattie Bender, said second interviews will likely be staged within the next two weeks. Stutesman was joined by a panel of four additional people – Bender, …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce is warning about a phone scam that has been reported by area residents. The caller asks the potential victim to verify information about their debit card. The alleged verification process is conducted by entering information through the telephone’s push buttons. Anyone who has entered information in this manner is urged to call their …

The village of Constantine has formed a new committee to study sources of funding for anticipated needs by the Constantine Fire Department. The Fire Funding Exploratory Committee was formed after fire Chief Mike Haydon gave the village, and Constantine and Florence townships, notice that the department must replace two trucks and the fire department building within the next 10 years. …