Constantine

Today is the first day of school in St. Joseph County and public school districts across the state. Locally, students in Colon Community Schools will see fully refurbished elementary and jr./sr. high buildings after a $15 million, district-wide building and technology upgrade was completed over the summer. In Three Rivers, new principals at Park and Norton elementary schools are in …

Constantine Middle School was the recipient of a $4,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. During a presentation Saturday, Josh Onken, site operations manager for the Constantine plant, made the donation. District officials said the grant will be used to purchase new library books and create a program to encourage reading. Onken said the …

St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender is advising the public that petitions for candidates to area school boards of education, Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees and village councils are due by 4 p.m. Aug. 14. All positions will be elected in the Nov. 6 general election. Bender said candidates wishing to run for school board in Burr Oak, …

The Abiel Fellows Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Three Rivers has announced recipients for the DAR Good Citizens for 2012. Honored for their dependability, service, leadership and patriotism, each senior is recognized on the basis of merit. This year’s Good Citizens are: Lauren Kirby, Centreville High School; Adam West, Constantine High School; Leslie Bennett, Factoryville Christian School; Lindsey …

The first St. Joseph County school district to begin its summer break is in Colon, where its students have a noon dismissal today, wrapping up their 2011-12 academic year. Other last days of school in St. Joseph County are June 1 for Constantine; June 6 for Burr Oak; June 7 for Three Rivers and White Pigeon; June 8 for Centreville …

The Constantine Public Schools Board of Education has taken on changes at the state level that allow school districts to extend the terms of board of education members from four to six years. The matter was approved earlier this week by board members. Those in favor of the revised term length said the option provides more stability than what is …

Constantine Public Schools has announced the date for an annual faculty-versus-police benefit basketball game for a fifth-annual fund rais¬er. The game is at 7:30 p.m. March 23 at the Constantine High School gym. Proceeds go toward the Michigan Concerns of Police Sur¬vivors organization. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at the door. A fundraiser bake sale also will …

Three area boys basketball teams remain in competition for the state playoffs. The trio will kick off the opening round of regional action tonight. In Class D, Howardsville Christian will put its 19-3 record on the line against an 11-12 Covert team. The contest tips off at 6 o’clock in Litchfield. In Class C, the Constantine Falcons, sporting a 9-13 …

High school basketball playoffs continue tonight. District finals on tap for 7 p.m. include 8-13 Constantine taking on 8-14 Cassopolis in Mendon. In addition, Three Rivers, 7-15, will battle 19-3 Sturgis at Comstock High School. Sturgis won the only meeting between the two teams this season, an overtime thriller in December. Meanwhile, a record-setting season for the Mendon girls basketball …