County Information

An Indiana man was named by Sheriff Brad Balk as St. Joseph County’s Citizen of the Year. The recognition went to Middlebury resident Andrew Finch during a brief ceremony at the sheriff’s department Tuesday. Finch helped investigators solve a pair of larcenies from Fillmore Equipment in Park Township. Finch was commended for acting on a suspicious situation after he was …

A $500 reward is being offered by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department for information related to a series of break-ins in southeastern St. Joseph County. The department said the reward is available to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction for the responsible party. Authorities are advising residents be especially alert to suspicious activity or …

The Colon Fire Department recently received a boost in its goal to purchase equipment for a new tanker/pumper truck. An international Food Fest event staged earlier this month by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church raised $1,200. A check was presented last week to Colon Fire Chief Matt Overholt. Members of the congregation said the March fire that destroyed two downtown businesses …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners set a time and date for an upcoming work session, an informal gathering that will take place at 3 p.m., June 5 at the county courthouse. Commissioner Don Eaton during Tuesday’s twice-a-month meeting said the much-discussed work session and its continued postponements was becoming a problem. He voiced his frustration over perpetual postponements …

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 …

Three Rivers City Commissioner David York plans to leave his elected position at the end of June. York announced during Tuesday’s city commission meeting his purchase of a residence outside the city limits where he plans to live, forcing him to give up the seat he gained in November 2011. His two-year term expires at the end of the year. …

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 …

Five people were arrested and a 1-year-old child turned over to protection services following an investigation into a methamphetamine operation Tuesday. Investigators with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said a search warrant was executed in the 58000 block of U.S. 131 in Fabius Township. Meanwhile the second warrant was executed in the 18000 block of South River Road in …

A gathering of school officials and residents Wednesday in the White Pigeon Community Schools applauded the ceremonial groundbreaking of improvement slated to take place at the district’s two schools. The event kicks off what will be a variety of building and design improvements at the district’s two school buildings over the next five years. The balance of the work this …

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 …