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Three Rivers Community Schools chose four people from a field of six candidates to its board of education. Newcomers Melissa Bliss and Ben Karle will join incumbents Julia Awe and Anne Riopel to six-year terms on the board. Meanwhile, incumbent Fred Barclay was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election to White Pigeon Community Schools Board of Education. Instead, Jeff Baechler …

A White Pigeon man died last week after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a vehicle in Constantine Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said Timothy Slabuagh, 35, died at the scene of the collision. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. Friday in the area of Riverside Drive and Blue School Road. The pickup was driven by 20-year-old Hunter McKenzie …

During their executive committee meeting last week, St. Joseph County commissioners heard that Sue Eickhoff, judicial secretary for judge Jeff Middleton, is retiring in late January. Court administrator Tab Wedge said Middleton will need to move forward and begin finding a replacement, a process that should start sooner than later. At least a month of training with Eickhoff would be …

Bethel Baptist Church in Three Rivers is offering free rides to polling places Tuesday. Dubbed “Souls to the Polls,” the free-ride program is available noon to 6 p.m. and transportation can be arranged by calling 757-894-8996. Facemask compliance will be required and CDC guidelines will be observed. Meanwhile, the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority is also offering free transportation to …

St. Joseph County undersheriff Jason Bingaman last week explained details of a service-agreement renewal with Canteen Food Service. During Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Executive Committee meeting, Bingaman said the company provides food for jail inmates and the proposed agreement is nearly identical to the most recent contract. He said per-meal cost is $1.61 if the jail population is 114 or …

I mentioned in last week’s column that I would share some of the worst traffic jams in the world. Perhaps the traffic jams we are experiencing here in Three Rivers might not seem so bad. Please note that this information is about forty years old, yet traffic jams will always be around: Britain has the distinction of boasting two separate …

A few personnel matters were addressed this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners first heard from Friend of the Court Bill Thistlethwaite. He reminded them of his impending March retirement to cap off a career that spanned more than 30 years in St. Joseph County. Thistlethwaite said he and deputy …

Members of the Constantine Fire Department responded Wednesday to a structure fire in the 600 block of East Water Street. The fire was reported to St. Joseph County Central Dispatch shortly after 10:30 p.m. Chief Mike Haydon said the homeowner smelled smoke and found the back porch on fire. He attempted to put out the blaze with a garden hose …

Two high-traffic, public places in St. Joseph County are closed temporarily. Sturgis District Library announced Thursday it is closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The library reported it is working with local health officials, and conducting appropriate cleaning and disinfecting. Reopening date of the library is not immediately known. The library’s doors were locked Thursday, with a sign …

After closing the six-game regular season with it first victory of 2020, Three Rivers High School’s varsity football team begins its playoff march tonight. The Wildcats topped Allegan, 27-to-6, a week ago to finish the season 1-and-5. Three Rivers will travel to Hastings to take on the Saxons. Hastings has a 5-and-1 record and is coming off a 37-to-18 victory …