News

Glen Oaks Community College is the recipient of a Title III grant totaling $2.25 million over a five-year period from the U. S. Department of Education. The award, $450,000 per year through 2020, was effective beginning Oct. 1 and is part of a federal Strengthening Institutions Program grant under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The focus is to improve …

State police investigators are looking into the theft of two trailers from a residence last week in Sherman Township. A department media release indicated the incident occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday off Findley Road, near M-66. A black, utility trailer was loaded with barn wood, while a silver cargo trailer was filled with electronic equipment. Meanwhile, sheriff’s …

A fundraiser for a Constantine native injured in an alumni football contest more than three months ago will take place Saturday. The four-hour event will benefit Robert Roll, a 2003 Constantine graduate. He is paralyzed after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit during the July 3 exhibition. Classmate Scott Sampson said the key raffle item is an overhauled 1995 Harley Davidson Sportster …

Three items of new business and a public hearing regarding a parks and recreation master plan are on the agenda for this evening’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners are expected to discuss the position of city assessor, a DDA investment request and a proposed resolution electing the hard-cap limits on public employer contributions to medical …

Michael Austermann, first precinct commissioner for the city of Sturgis, has announced his resignation, effective immediately. Austermann cited health issues as the reason behind the decision. To fill the vacant board seat, the city will accept letters of interest, which must be submitted to the city clerk by Nov. 5. Prospects must be registered voters who reside in Precinct 1. …

Prosecutors say a charge against a 12-year-old southwestern Michigan boy in the accidental shooting death of a 28-year-old family friend has been dismissed. Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that the decision was made last week after the boy was found not competent to stand trial in juvenile court on a misdemeanor charge of careless …

Too many hungry deer are being blamed for the end of a 30-year Christmas tradition in southwestern Michigan. Mott’s Christmas Barn in Vicksburg in Kalamazoo County is closing. The deer population can’t be controlled, and the animals have been munching on trees. Customers have traveled to the farm each year to cut down a Christmas tree. Owner Mardee Mott tells …

The state Supreme Court won’t overturn a decision that grants a new trial to a man convicted in the death of his half brother in southwestern Michigan. The court last week declined to take an appeal from prosecutors in the case of Antonio Lewis. He was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Ivory Shaver, whose body was found …

A 47-year-old Three Rivers man was found guilty on eight charges of sexual-related offenses following a trial last week in Centreville. A jury in St. Joseph County Circuit Court on Thursday found Cary Jones guilty on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting a minor for immoral purposes. Jones was a live-in boyfriend of the …

Three Rivers Health is staging an open house 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at its in-patient rehabilitation pavilion. Located at 701 S. Health Parkway, the facility during its open house will include a number of vendor booths such as Three Rivers Health Stroke Support Group, Speech Support Group, Center for Wound Healing and Outpatient Physical Therapies.