TRSchool Board--Budget Cuts
Last activity Jul 4, 2010 11:36 AM
Warning: Check your water/sewer bill!
Last activity Oct 14, 2008 8:37 PM
I want chickens, too!
Last activity Dec 5, 2007 8:54 PM
Dirty Laundry: Termination of Finance Director
Last activity Jul 28, 2011 1:35 AM
Fond good-bye to Suzy Rigdon
Last activity Jun 16, 2007 10:15 AM
Three Rivers DDA millage proposed
Three Rivers Area • Jun 2, 2010 9:08 PM
silentTRobserver, I've seen Bippus and commissioners gnoshing together at Brewsters. Last time was in February, and there were enough that I did a head count and was prepared to take a picture. It was Bippus, Daryl, Ramsey and Elbert. They were one short of a quorum (four commissioners makes a quorum). On this point, too, I'll give Balog kudos, because he was also at Brewsters, but he sat separately. I'm sure these gentlemen and others would like to crab about invasion of their personal life, personal time and their rights, but when you accept a public position and the rights and responsibilities that go with that position, along come with it speculation, observation, boundaries, legalities and hopefully an understanding of propriety. I shall continue to do what is right whether anybody likes it or not.----Harry S. Truman If you bring to the table a complaint, you had better also bring a solution.----Sarah Embil
Three Rivers DDA millage proposed
Three Rivers Area • Jun 2, 2010 9:00 PM
Thank you for finally emphasizing that it wasn't just Ramsey that voted in favor for this. And isn't it interesting how it is now just a known fact which way Daryl will always vote. It wasn't always that way. Daryl used to give conscious thought for the public he served--not the City Manager's desires or those of big business. Anyway, back to the others. Elbert Foster was very generous in his offer--but not realistic and likely not legally binding. And looking back ten years hindsight, we all know that A LOT can happen in ten years. Carolyn McNary's cluelessness is inexcuseable. As a commissioner she should have DEMANDED answers and done her research. Shame on her. And how will either one of them answer to their constituents, many of whom struggle desperately financially. But the downtown MUST have its lights! flowers! snowplow! rehab! I hope that answer will satisfy Carolyn and Elbert's neighbors who may be struggling to feed their families or in fear of whether they can make their house payments. But let their be light and flowers downtown! Carolyn McNary made a comment to me about six weeks ago when I was filling her ear about the chlorination issue and the expense, and other water/sewer expenses over the past history, and she blurted out, "the City is rich. We have plenty of money." and she laughed as though it was silly that we get troubled over expenses or costly "mistakes". Since then I have wondered if perhaps Carolyn is perhaps confused and thinks that whatever figures she might be seeing on paper are freely available for whatever handouts presented to the commission might sound like a good idea, such as DDA funding. And not understanding their source, the City will just dip into that "money well" she's got pictured in her mind.... I shall continue to do what is right whether anybody likes it or not.----Harry S. Truman If you bring to the table a complaint, you had better also bring a solution.----Sarah Embil
TRSchool Board--Budget Cuts
Three Rivers Area • Jun 1, 2010 2:10 PM
What I would love to know is why the high school counselors have remained un-"cut". My daughter graduated a year ago, and I can't recall a single instance in which they assisted in ANY WAY in "guiding" through the high school to college process. There was even a point early on when, after meeting with her h.s. counselor and realizing how ineffective and useless he was and having met with another of the counselors, I requested a change to that other counselor and was "strongly urged" not to rock the boat. I realized at that point these people were more concerned about their office strategy---not any rapport or relationship they might need to bridge to reach each and every one of these children. I shall continue to do what is right whether anybody likes it or not.----Harry S. Truman If you bring to the table a complaint, you had better also bring a solution.----Sarah Embil
County Commission
Three Rivers Area • May 9, 2010 11:52 AM
Ellen you are right. I was mistaken. It was John Bippus (Joe's brother) who was a County Commissioner. But now, being confused about exactly WHICH Bippus was on the County Commission, I checked stjosephcountymi.org website for a list of the county commissioners and currently there is no Bippus listed as a commissioner. Must be that Jim Bippus (Joe's father) is running for the same seat Balog is running for--which would be the seat Dunlap is vacating. However, no Bippus is currently seated on that Commission. I shall continue to do what is right whether anybody likes it or not.----Harry S. Truman If you bring to the table a complaint, you had better also bring a solution.----Sarah Embil
County Commission
Three Rivers Area • May 9, 2010 1:32 AM
From the Sturgis Journal, as reported by Jef Rietsma:Three Rivers Mayor Allen Balog has announced his candidacy for the St. Joseph County board of commissioners. Balog pulled a petition this week from the St. Joseph County Clerks office and is in the midst of collecting signatures to secure a spot on the August ballot. To date, the only competition on the Republican ticket that Balog will face in the primary is Jim Bippus, a Three Rivers resident and father of City Manager Joe Bippus. Balog, 54, hopes to succeed County Commission Chairman Mike Dunlap, who said he will not seek re-election. The District 3 seat sought by Balog and Bippus covers the city of Three Rivers and a portion of Lockport Township. Dunlap will have served five years at the county level by the end of 2010. I wouldnt choose to step down without the confidence I have in Al Balog, and I offer a wholehearted endorsement of Al Balog as St. Joe county commissioner, Dunlap said. Its been a great run for me and I like the idea that Al Balog would fill my spot on the county level. Balog said he appreciates Dunlaps support. Dunlap, 68, has not missed a single county commission meeting as a commissioner and said he looks forward to pursuing some of his favorite hobbies, including fishing and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dunlap said he has a son who lives in Idaho and he would like to take more trips out west to visit him. I hate the thought of Balog leaving TR Commission as our Mayor. He has done an excellent job thus far, from my perspective, and the "housecleaning" that seems to be slowly happening down at City Hall has been refreshing. His candor, up-front honesty, and willingness to uncover problems and deal with them openly and listen to the public have been a welcome and necessary change, which has fostered more good changes. My worry is.....who can we find to fill his shoes who will take on the position with the seriousness, openness and honesty that he brought to it?.......Not to mention he is now experienced!! Our City right now is caught in a maelstrom of events and this is a time when we need Mayor Balog most. I shall continue to do what is right whether anybody likes it or not.----Harry S. Truman If you bring to the table a complaint, you had better also bring a solution.----Sarah Embil