Three Rivers shoots 426 on first SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016 day of state girls' golf finals... Since 1895 –page 10 Vol. 122, Issue #245 75¢ Three Rivers THREERIVERSNEWS.COM COMMERCIAL-NEWS TR receives $2 million SAW grant ‘Great news for the city’ Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant superintendent THREE RIVERS — The City of Three Rivers Doug Humbert and Department of Public Services director has received a $2 million Stormwater, Asset Amy Roth, standing at the Wastewater Treatment plant, are Management and Wastewater (SAW) grant from very pleased about the city’s receipt of a $2 million SAW grant. the Michigan Department of Environmental Commercial-News/Elena Meadows Quality. The grant will help the city map, assess, clean and televise storm and sanitary sewers. Steve Bishop, PE, project manager for Fleis & VandenBrink of Grand Rapids, helped the city apply for the grant. “The grant money will also be used to purchase new computer equipment and software for the city to operate and care for the GIS base map system and database,” Bishop said. “The key thing is that there will be no out-of-pocket local funding.” “It’s great news for the city,” said Amy Roth, Department of Public Services director for Three develop an Asset Management Plan to plan for The city has some storm and sanitary lines that looking into the future, preventing disasters, and Rivers. “And it couldn’t have come at a better future maintenance, repairs and upgrades. were installed in the 1940s. Knowing their current setting up long-term solutions for our t i m e .” “It’s a tremendous benefit to the city to be able condition will be significant aid in planning infrastructure.” The grant will pay for the cleaning and televising to characterize all of our assets, determine their infrastructure needs. Humbert noted that the primary lift station, of the city-owned wastewater and stormwater condition and then develop a plan to move “The SAW grant provides an amazing which handles 70 to 80 percent of the flow and systems over a three-year timeline. The televising forward and take us through the next 20 years,” opportunity for communities like us to develop 100 percent of the flow from the city, is also 60 will allow for a condition assessment of the said Doug Humbert, Three Rivers Wastewater asset management plans for stormwater and years old. The important lift station, along with infrastructure currently in place to help the city Treatment Plant (WWTP) superintendent. wastewater system,” Roth said. “It’s all about See SAW GRANT, page 3 Seven interested SWM First had positive news in 3Q Corporation, told St. Joseph County companies to understand company Reports to county commissioners at their executive needs, wants and desires. In response in first district post commissioners committee meeting Wednesday, Oct. to the conversations, they provided THREE RIVERS — The city of Three Rivers has received seven citizen interest 12 as he along with SWM First any of nearly two dozen solutions forms for the vacancy of First District Commissioner created by the resignation By Elena Meadows associate vice president Cathy Knapp including Pure Michigan regional and of Jared Hoffmaster. Forms were accepted until Friday, Oct. 14 at noon. Managing Editor and SWM First director Damon utility summits, expansion project and Commissioners will review the forms and at their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18 Allison gave their progress report on incentive assistance, wage and benefits appoint a new member with a term to expire Nov. 10, 2017. CENTREVILLE — “We had positive Southwest Michigan First’s activities comparisons building/site location or Expressing an interest were Kristina Arevalo, Douglas Bingaman, Patricia news again in the third quarter,” Ken in St. Joseph County. marketing assistance, fiber Dane, Andrew Goldberger, John Kish, Timothy Raakman and Rob Vander Jones, president of the St. Joseph During the quarter, they conducted connectivity and MEDC loan Giessen-Reitsma. County Economic Development 59 visits with St. Joseph County See SWM FIRST, page 3 Robotics program gaining steam Study shows GOCC By Elena Meadows Twenty-five students from freshmen to seniors Managing Editor participated last year in the robotics club, which meets at Three Rivers Middle School under the guidance of Webb, added $119.3 million in THREE RIVERS — “It’s easy to teach, engaging, hands- Bill Bottles and Jim Stephanoff. Their goal is to build a robot on, kids love it,” Phil Webb told Three Rivers Rotarians on to participate in FIRST Robotics Competition. Thursday, Oct. 13 about Three Rivers High School’s Last year, their robot could pick up a ball and shoot it at a income to local economy Robocats club, now in its third year. goal, as well as having a scissor lift that could reach up CENTREVILLE — An economic added income to the region during the nearly seven feet, grab onto a bar and pull its 110-pound self impact study conducted for Glen Oaks past year as a result of its day-to-day two feet off the floor. It participated in two competitions; in Community College indicates that the operations — equivalent to supporting one, the Robocats made it to the playoffs. college, its students, and regional 102 jobs. The spending by Glen Oaks FIRST, founded in 1989 by Segway inventor Dean Kamen, alumni added $119.3 million in students during the same time period is a program based on the idea that young adults’ futures can income to the local economy in 2015- was $224,000 equaling 12 jobs. be shaped from an engineering experience that provides 16, approximately equal to four “The numbers speak for themselves,” learning of technology, business, marketing and leadership. percent of the region’s total GRP. said Glen Oaks President David It is targeted to get students into STEM (science, technology, Conducted by Economic Modeling Devier, “and confirm that Glen Oaks is engineering and math) careers. Specialists International (EMSI), of a great investment for the students and Not only does the program help with technical skills such Moscow, Idaho, the study reports, the community. Glen Oaks contributes Robocats as adjusting gear ratios to improve robot performance, it “The value of Glen Oaks Community to our quality of life in many ways. We Following their pre- helps team members learn marketing, the ability to scout College influences both the lives of are grateful for the support of the sentation to the Three Rivers Rotary other teams so they can create alliances with teams whose students and also the regional community.” Club Thursday, Oct. skills complement their own, and the skill of staying calm economy. The college serves a range of The report also touched on the 14, Robocats advi- under pressure in the busy pit making sure the robot is in industries in the GOCC surrounding accumulated contribution of Glen sor Phil Webb, tip-top working condition. communities, supports local Oaks alumni currently employed in three-year member This coming year’s theme is “Steamworks”; Jan. 7 is the businesses, and benefits society as a the regional workforce, equating the Brandon Bottles and kickoff day where they will learn about this year’s project whole in Michigan and northern value at $112.1 million, equal to 3,828 two-year member and from there, teams have six weeks to create a robot using Indiana from an expanded economy jobs. Hunter Schnetzler less than $4,000. and improved quality of life. The The college generates more tax stand with their Five schools in the county also now have robotics teams: benefits extend to the state government revenue than it collects. These benefits robot from last year. Commercial-News/ Burr Oak, Centreville, Colon, Constantine and Sturgis. through increased tax revenues and to taxpayers consist primarily of taxes Elena Meadows Elena Meadows can be reached at 279-7488 ext. 22 or public sector savings. paid to state government and used to [email protected]. Glen Oaks added $7 million in See GOCC ADDED TO ECONOMY, page 3 Complete Auto SPECIAL & Truck Repair FALL IN LOVE OFFER ALERT! We want you to advertise with us! Call us today at 279–7488 to see how you MULLIN’S M-60 AUTO SERVICE, INC. can get this prime spot for... Honest & Dependable Service Since 1980 • Owner – Jim Mullin 496-7200 • 914 West Main, Mendon • Mon-Fri: 7am – 5:00pm • www.mullinsm60autoservice.com ONLY$25! WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON: Household hazardous waste collection held TODAY’S WEATHER Diane & Pete Leverentz •HIGH: 71º •LOW: 49º To subscribe, place an ad or submit ©2016 Three Rivers Commercial, Inc. HAVE A GREAT DAY: a news tip call: 269.279.7488 2 – Saturday, October 15, 2016 What's Up? Commercial-News ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday, Oct. 16 •Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 7 p.m., George Washington Carver Center, 436 Jeffer- Three Rivers son St., Three Rivers. Library News Monday, Oct. 17 •Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 7:30 p.m., Congregational Church, 360 S. Washington, THREE RIVERS — Join us know how to sew, please come 4-5 p.m. Books may be checked or Skype, social media, how to 8666 or stop in to register. Constantine. for LITTLE WIGGLERS BABY join us any way. Call 273- out at the library’s front desk. download library ebooks or LOCAL AUTHOR VISIT & •Three Rivers Historic District Commission, 4 TIME every Tuesday at 10 a.m. 8666 or stop in to register. T(W)EEN LEGO & GAME audiobooks, and so much more! SCI-FI WRITING WORKSHOP p.m., Three Rivers Area Chamber of Com- This 20-minute program is A FAMILY MOVIE will be NIGHT — Build intricate Call the library today to sign up — Join local published author, merce, 57 N. Main St.