Schools

The 58th Mendon Kiwanis Showboat begins its three-day run tonight. The theme this year is “School Daze,” which will lead to plenty of skits and jokes following a school theme, event organizers said. The Showboat is a musical and comedy presentation made up of a cast of about 50 local residents. Pat Tompkins, who is heading this week’s production, said …

Incumbents on area school boards fared well in Tuesday’s general election. In Three Rivers, Pete Bennett was re-elected to a four-year term. In addition, leading vote-getter Diana DeGraff and Scott Karle  were victorious in the four-person race. They, too, will serve four-year terms. In White Pigeon, top vote-getter Dan Cropsey and fellow incumbent Joe Taylor won in their bid for …

Three of the four St. Joseph County-based high school football playoff teams bowed out over the weekend in pre-district action. A failed extra point doomed Three Rivers Friday, as the Wildcats fell to Vicksburg, 14-13, in Division 4 action. The game was marred by strong, cold winds that had a negative impact on both teams, according to coaches. On Saturday, …

Nominations are being accepted for the 2014-15 John E. Oster Award for outstanding teaching and exemplary community service by a Sturgis Public Schools teacher. The award is in honor of the late John E. Oster, a Sturgis attorney, who placed high value on education and community service. The award has been presented annually since the 1981-82 school year. In addition …

Start times for this weekend’s state football playoff games have been announced by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. A pair of matinee games will be played Saturday, as Schoolcraft at Constantine and Colon at Mendon will kick off their respective games at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, a 7:30 start time Friday night has been set for a Division 4 contest, …

The pairings for the 2014 high school football playoffs were announced Sunday night. Four area teams will play in the post season. In Division 4, Three Rivers will take its 6-and-3 record to Vicksburg Friday night for a Wolverine Conference rematch with the 7-and-2 Bulldogs. Three Rivers won the regular-season battle, 25-12, earlier this month. Constantine, with an 8-and-1 record, …

A former Constantine Public Schools administrator is taking on a high-profile position with a state education program. Kristin Flynn, a Schoolcraft resident and former principal at Eastside Elementary, is resigning her position as Schoolcraft High School principal to take a post with Michigan Virtual University. The 44-year-old Flynn, whose last day in Schoolcraft will be Oct. 31, said she will …

Four of the nine school districts in St. Joseph County saw an increase in student enrollment this fall compared to a year ago. The unofficial headcount conducted two weeks ago showed Centreville, Sturgis, Three Rivers and White Pigeon all had gains in their enrollment. White Pigeon Community Schools led the way with 35 additional students for an enrollment of 792. …

Glen Oaks Community College President David Devier outlined plans for a renovation project during last week’s board of trustees meeting. The proposal would include renovation of the college library, learning center and art studio. The three-phase project is expected to cost $ 2.5 million, Devier said. He said the college plans to ask the state for half of the necessary …

Students at Centreville, Constantine and Three Rivers high schools were treated to a special appearance Wednesday during assemblies at their respective schools. Daniel Booko, a 2002 Three Rivers High School graduate, was accompanied during visits to the schools by his fiancée, Nia Sanchez, Miss USA 2014. The 30-year-old Booko and 24-year-old Sanchez during their visits discussed their days as junior …