County renews agreement with sheriff

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 80 hours a week and will cost about $160,000 for the year.

Fabius Township will receive coverage 40 hours a week beyond routine patrol at a cost of about $93,000

Both contracts are retroactive to April 1 and expire at the end of March 2014.

The county also provides law-enforcement service to Glen Oaks Community College.

GOCC registration underway

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 aid and scholarships may also be available for prospective students who qualify.

New officers introduced

Four new auxiliary officers were introduced to the Three Rivers City Commission Tuesday.

Chief Tom Bringman said over the past 11 months, the five completed 120 hours of training, which included classroom, defensive tactics and firearms.

The quartet is comprised of Three Rivers High School graduates Brian Kline and Travis Cain, Caledonia native Gary VanderMei and Kalamazoo resident Shawn Taylor.

Bringman praised the auxiliary squad and said without the assistance of its members, the department would not be as effective as it is.

Concern over parking violations

Three Rivers Police Chief Tom Bringman will instruct officers to beef up enforcement of parking violations around Hoppin Elementary School when classes resume next week.

Concern about the issue was raised Tuesday by Three Rivers City Commissioner Daryl Griffith, who said illegally parked cars pose a risk to children who walk home from school or to waiting cars parked legally on streets around the perimeter of the school.

Griffith said he was dismayed by the number of parking violations he saw while recently observing the end-of-day dismissal procedure.

Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster, who has children attending Hoppin, echoed Griffith’s concerns.

Upgrades for Sweetland Stadium

Constantine alumnus and former football coach Dave Horn has offered to spearhead fundraising efforts to benefit upgrades at Sweetland Stadium.

Members of the district’s board of education have been presented three architectural drawings featuring various upgrades at the football, and track-and-field complex. Horn has started the push for potential improvements and the process will include feedback from the public.

Costs related to any upgrades have not been calculated and a time frame for the proposed upgrades has not yet been adopted.

District officials are expected to hear from Horn updates on the proposal at future board meetings.

GOCC has new degree programs

Glen Oaks Community College officials have announced three new associate degree programs in visual arts beginning in the fall.

The associate of arts in visual arts degree has emphasis in three areas: graphic design, fine art and commercial photography.

Developing the trio of new programs was a two-year process that involved evaluating the market for visual arts, the school’s ability to provide the courses with quality instruction and whether similar programs are offered.

With the exception of commercial photography, most of the jobs obtained by people who take the graphic design and fine-art courses at Glen Oaks will require a four-year degree.

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