Business

Nine fire departments, including six from St. Joseph County, responded to a commercial blaze Wednesday in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The manufacturing section of Southern Michigan Rubber Co., located on M-60 near the St. Joseph County line, was destroyed by the afternoon blaze. Company officials indicated the fire appeared to have started near the rear of the building in a …

A LaGrange County man suspected of setting fire to a Sturgis restaurant in 2009 was sentenced to prison Wednesday for unrelated felonies. Nathan Lumbard, 30, was ordered to serve a six-year sentence in Indiana after he completes a sentence he is currently serving in Kentucky, where he will be incarcerated until June 2014. Lumbard, who has yet to stand trial …

St. Joseph County officials have agreed to move forward with the idea of promoting St. Joseph County to the Chicago region. During a work session that included all five county commissioners Wednesday, county administrator Pat Yoder said he will work with officials from 2 Fish marketing and look at steps toward developing a concrete plan. Commissioner Don Eaton, a leading …

Several fire departments responded to a blaze Wednesday afternoon at Southern Michigan Rubber, located on M-60 in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The fire reportedly started in a dust collector which is located in an area where rubber gaskets are manufactured. Twenty workers escaped from the building when the fire was discovered. The facility was a total loss.

An 18-year-old Sturgis woman was cited for failure to yield the right of way following a two-vehicle accident Saturday in Sherman Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Katelyn Johnson was driving on Banker Street when she proceeded to cross Balk Road. Sixty-two-year-old Charles Hudson of Sturgis was driving north on Balk Road and had the right of way; …

Sticker shock at the gas pump this week for Michigan motorists. Gas prices in the state jumped 22 cents since last week and are now averaging almost $4.10 a gallon. Triple A Michigan says the current statewide average is nearly 47 cents higher than at this same time last year. The average statewide price on Sunday was $4.06 per gallon …

A new state report says the number of traditional landlines in Michigan is continuing to fall and says cellphones now make up three-quarters of all phones. The report released Monday says there were 3.08 million landlines in Michigan in 2012, the most recent year available. That’s down 8 percent from 3.34 million in 2011. The landline total has fallen steadily …

A break-in at a Mottville Township gas station was investigated this week by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies responded shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday to the 11000 block of U.S. 12 in response to an alarm that was triggered as a result of the break-in. A department media release did not indicate whether anything was taken from the …

The Three Rivers farmer’s market will offer lower rates, take place at a new time and on a different day, and an effort has gone into marketing, advertising and promoting the market. Organizers of the weekly market made the announcement in a media release, which stated the changes have resulted in all 10 market spaces have being filled for the …

A number of temporary and seasonal jobs were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Hired to work the sheriff’s department marine patrol for the season were: William Smith as sergeant for $17.30 an hour, and David McGee, Jaymes MacDonald, Roger Schrock and Robert Littke at a rate of $15.30 an hour. Jonathan Mejeur was hired as …