News

A 27-year-old western Michigan hunter has been formally charged in the death of a mother bear that was with her cubs. Derek Hassevoort of Zeeland waived a October 14th arraignment and faces a Nov. 3 pretrial hearing in Oceana County District Court. He was named about two weeks ago in a warrant. Hassevoort is charged with unlawfully taking a bear, a …

Longtime Sturgis Township zoning officer Gary Bland is being succeeded by two officials who will split zoning responsibilities. The move was announced last week by Supervisor George Morse. According to Morse, Bland’s departure after 15 years was by mutual agreement and follows a complaint filed by a township resident over Bland’s actions in resolving a neighborhood lighting dispute. Trustees approved …

Three members of the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education were assigned new positions this week. With Waneta Truckey stepping in as board president after Mike Bosma last month gave up the post but remains on the board, Pete Bennett was named vice president, Carl Barth treasurer and Erin Nowak secretary. The new duties were decided Monday.

The Twin County Probation Center will be relocating next year to another site in Three Rivers after it closed on an existing building last month. Center officials said they expect to be operating by next summer in the building that previously housed the Sav-A-Lot supermarket on South Main Street. Tim Miles, executive director of the probation center, said the new …

Here’s a reminder that leaf pickup started this week in Three Rivers and will continue into November. The process began this week in the city’s Third District. It will continue Monday in the First District and move to the Fourth District starting Oct. 26. The Second District will see its leaf pickup start the week of Nov. 2. If weather …

Representatives from Glen Oaks Community College and Michigan State University will be on hand for a special Agricultural Operations information session 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday next week at Glen Oaks Community College’s Dresser Business Development Center. A presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m. The college recently entered into a partnership with Michigan State University’s Institute of Agricultural Technology …

Winners of last weekend’s Scarecrow Fest have been announced by the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department. Director Jaymes MacDonald said the top vote-getter in each of three categories are: Weenie King, funniest. Heartwood Renaissance, scariest. And Larry Brueck, most creative. There were 12 scarecrows in all and the winners were based on the public’s vote at Sunday’s event …

Sturgis Board of Education members voted this week to appoint Scott Boland to a seat on the board. The vacancy was created when board treasurer Geoffrey Smith resigned last month. According to board president Kerri Millett, Boland was one of seven people to apply for the position. She called the candidates “an awesome group of people.” Boland was chosen as …

Organizers of last week’s Project Connect at Glen Oaks Community College said 837 people took part in the four-hour community event. The 10th annual Project Connect was moved to the school’s gymnasium after outgrowing its space at Firm Foundations Ministries in Centreville. The event was promoted as a one-stop clearinghouse for people with needs ranging from employment and legal aide, …

A 20-year agreement with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency was approved last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The agreement is for the agency’s St. Joseph County-based site, at 1110 Hill St., in Three Rivers. As part of the arrangement, the health agency will pay $1 a year to the county for rent. Also, either party …