New boat with sonar

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has unveiled the newest addition to its marine patrol.

Sheriff Brad Balk and Captain Jason Bingaman this week showed off its newest boat, a Boston Whaler that features a side-scan sonar device.

Thanks to nearly $3,500 in donations, the department was able to purchase the boat and sonar unit. The boat was named “Daniella,” in memory of Daniella Vaca, a 10-year-old Chicago-area girl who died following a boating accident on Corey Lake a year ago.

Lake associations from Colon Township, as well as Corey and Klinger lakes, generated substantial amounts of money for the cause.