Out and About – Week of March 30

 April 1. Besides being “All Fools Day”, it’s also the day that the Three Rivers High School Band and Vocal Music DepartmentS leave on their trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. They have held many fundraisers in order to fund this trip and have been successful in doing so. For that, they thank all of you who supported them in their endeavors. They plan to enjoy the many adventures that this trip holds in store for them, but they will also participate in various competitions. I have all the confidence in the world that they will bring home some well-earned awards. Speaking for the community of Three Rivers, I wish each and every one of you the best. Have fun, and it goes without saying that you’ll make us proud. GO CATS!

Just about every week, I mention something about the upcoming Water Festival. I’ll probably continue to do so until it actually happens June 18, 19, and 20. As you know, volunteers are always needed, but these are desperate times, and volunteer time is hard to find. Donation containers have been placed at several eating establishments in the Three Rivers area. When visiting Matt & Mikes, Main Street Cafe, LA’s Coffee Cafe, or Mr. B’s Dairy Bar, please put your spare change into containers located at these sites. The Water Festival committee wishes to thank these local eateries for permitting us to place these donation cans near their cash registers. If you don’t have time to volunteer, give generously when you dine out. If you’d like to volunteer some of your spare time, give Deb a call at the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce. She’ll welcome your call at 278-8193. Remember to volunteer; the world is run by those who show up.

Spring, as you know, is officially here. It won’t be long before we’ll grill outside. That means the smell of hot dogs, burgers and steaks will fill the outside air. Lemonade will also be on the menu and, if you have the pioneer spirit, you’ll squeeze the lemons yourself. Don’t throw away lemon halves after squeezing out the juice. Dip them in salt and rub them on the bottom of a copper-bottom pan for a few minutes. The pan will shine like new. If you then scour the bottom of the pot lightly with a soap-filled pad, this will help prevent further accumulation of dullness.

As I previously mentioned, tomorrow is the beginning of April. This means that you have about fifteen days to file your income tax return. I don’t mean to scare any of you, but filing a return is a fact of life. It just needs to be done. There’s some good news for taxpayers with middle and low incomes, especially those aged 55 and older. You can receive free income tax preparation for the next two Thursdays, from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M., at the Three Rivers Community Center, 103 S. Douglas, in Three Rivers. These are walk-in clinics, so advance appointments aren’t necessary. Only the first 20 seniors signed in for each clinic will be guaranteed to meet with a tax consultant. Remember, if you’d like to have lunch at the center, you need to order 24 hours in advance. Phone 279-8083.

As the weather continues to improve, the pedestrian traffic will increase. Everyone will want to get Out and About by walking. Walking is very economical and very good for a healthier you. Pedestrians watch out for motorized vehicles. Motorized vehicles, please watch for pedestrians crossing the street, especially in the downtown area. In addition, bike or skateboard riding on the downtown sidewalks is NOT allowed.

You can tell that the conclusion of this column, for this week, is near, because here’s another use for coffee filters: Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

See you Out and About!!

Arthur Clutter

Services will be held Friday for Arthur Lee Clutter of Zephyrhills, Fla., formerly of White Pigeon, Mich., who died Jan. 22, 2009, in Florida.

Memories and refreshments may be shared with the family at 6 p.m. Friday at Constantine United Methodist Church dining room. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. at the church.

Arrangements are by the Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

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James McCarroll, 56

James Robert McCarroll, age 56, of White Pigeon, Mich., died Sunday, March 29, 2009, at his home, following an extended illness.

He had resided in White Pigeon for nine years, coming from Three Rivers.

He was born July 13, 1952, in Detroit, a son of Louis Charles and Margarette Marie (Haskin) McCarroll.

He married Carol Ann Schabes (Morgan) on June 19, 1999, in Three Rivers.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, and served with the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles.”

He had been employed in construction, most recently with Cargo King in White Pigeon.

He enjoyed fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Jessi McCarroll of East Lansing; two sons, Joseph (Stacy) McCarroll of Mason and Kaleb McCarroll of White Pigeon; three stepdaughters, Katherine (Dennis) Brueck of Mendon, Kimberly (Chris) Johnson of Grand Rapids, and Kerry Morgan of Three Rivers; two stepsons, Kevin (Melissa) Morgan of Goshen, Ind., and Keith (Barbara) Morgan of Cassopolis; 16 grandchildren; two sisters, Kitty (Wayne) Cole and Mary Montgomery, both of Ionia; his mother, Margarette Manley of Ionia; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his father; and a brother, Joseph McCarroll.

There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers, with the Rev. Mark Vyverman, pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Three Rivers officiating. Burial with full military rites will follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice of Kalamazoo. Envelopes are available at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

Hope Marie Jones, infant

Hope Marie Jones, infant daughter of Robert and Mandy (Johnson) Jones, born at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, went to be with her Lord on March 29, 2009.

She is survived by her parents, brother Robert II and sisters Katlyn and Emily, all at home; grandparents, Lorraine Carter of Sturgis, Alan and Jane Johnson of Burr Oak, and Dave and Kathi Jones of Colon; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Enoch (JC) Carter.

The family will receive relatives and friends from noon-3 p.m. Thursday at New Beginnings Church, 63022 M-66, Sturgis. A memorial service will take place at 3 p.m., with Pastor Randy Evans officiating. A graveside committal service will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon.

TR City Commission discusses The Meadows

Lengthy discussion, but no decisions were made.

                This is how Mayor Allen Balog summarized a special meeting of the Three Rivers City Commission Monday evening (March 30^th), a session called by City Manager Joe Bippus “to consider the purchase of 5 acres in the Meadows.”

                According to Balog, the meeting was called to order around 6:15 after the arrival of First District Commissioner Rowdy Keith and soon moved into closed session.  The meeting was adjourned around 7 p.m. after returning to open session and no actions were taken.

                Fourth District Commissioner Carolyn McNary and Commissioner-at-Large Ken Cochran were absent.

                In a memo to the mayor and commissioners in advance of the meeting, Bippus reported that, “First National Bank is nearing default on a 5.6 acre parcel of land on the east end of the Meadows Condominium complex.”  According to the memo, “The land has a special assessment bond levied against it and unpaid back taxes.  The City has held preliminary discussions with the bank and they are willing to negotiate a resolution but no agreement has been reached at this time.  The City Attorney and City Manager would like to update the City Commission on this issue and discuss options on how the City could approach it.”

In regard to “fiscal effects,” the memo identified a figure of “$22,328.47 to halt the foreclosure process.”

                Regarding a recommendation, Bippus wrote, “It is recommended that the City Commission discuss the issue and provide the City Administration with direction.”

                The city commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, April 7^th.

TR Health gets new ER doctors

Wednesday (April 1^st) is the day Three Rivers Health transitions to Emergency Consultants, Inc. – ECI – as the new provider of emergency room services at the Three Rivers Health Medical Center.  During an interview last week, Matt Chambers, President & CEO of Three Rivers Health, said, “The transition is going smoothly.”  The hospital has been using “locum tenens” – interim physicians – to staff the emergency room since the end of September last year when the arrangement with the previous provider, Kalamazoo Emergency Associates, ended.  Regarding Traverse City-based ECI, Chambers said, “They’re a group that has a well-established track record and they have a very strong emphasis on patient satisfaction and high quality medicine and we’re really excited to have them on board.”  ECI will take care of all the scheduling and do its own billing, meaning that patients will receive bills from two different entities – one from ECI for physician services and one from Three Rivers Health for the hospital portion.  Looking ahead to Wednesday’s transition, Chambers said, “We’re on board to flip the switch at 8 a.m.”

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