County Information

The City of Sturgis is installing its new, portable ice-skating rink at the corner of North Monroe Street and East Chicago Road, next to Headlines Hair Design and Spa. Installation started last week and opening for skating will depend on the weather. More information will be forthcoming regarding hours of operation and when skating begins.

A residence in Colon Township was raided by the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit Friday morning, resulting in the arrests of five people. Sheriff’s department officials said the 7:30 a.m. raid at the Driftwood Drive residence was the second in nine months at that location. Two females and three males, ranging in age from 30 to 76, were taken …

Sturgis residents in a neighborhood in the city’s northeast quadrant are being advised to follow a boil-water advisory, following a water-main break last week. The broken pipe was at the intersection of North Lakeview Avenue and Wilshire Drive. More than a dozen basements were flooded as a result of the water-main break, which took place in the pre-dawn hours Friday, …

A South Bend man, who is suspected of passing out while driving, is hospitalized following a one-car incident around 1 a.m. Saturday in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Francisco Perez, 24, was driving south on Constantine Road when he passed out behind the wheel and his vehicle collided with a tree near the intersection of Roys …

Two promotions and a new full-time employee have been announced by the Sturgis Fire Department. Deputy Chief Andy Strudwick said Cody Cripe and Andy Kiss were promoted to the rank of captain. Meanwhile, Joel Hohn was brought on board as a full-time employee after serving in a part-time capacity since 2007. Cripe joined the department in 2003, while Kiss has …

Eight jobs are being cut at Three Rivers Health as the result of restructuring, according to hospital CEO William Russell. With the current economic environment in the health-care industry, Russell noted the management reduction is necessary to ensure a sustainable path for the future of Three Rivers Health. Russell expressed his gratitude to all management leaders for their service. He …

The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested a White Pigeon woman this week at her residence. SCAN officials said the 38-year-old woman, whose identity was not released pending arraignment, was taken into custody Monday after officers executed a search warrant at her residence, 201 N. St. Joseph St. Police discovered methamphetamine and evidence of meth having been manufactured on …

An Indiana man who was airlifted from the scene of a fatal car accident Wednesday morning is in fair condition at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Menno Schwartz, 23, of Geneva, Ind., was injured following the 6:40 a.m. accident Wednesday on Fawn River Road in White Pigeon Township. The nature of his injuries was not disclosed by hospital officials or in a …

Wet roads that froze late Tuesday and early Wednesday resulted in a pair of rollover accidents in St. Joseph County Wednesday. Sheriff’s department officials said the first incident took place at 7:10 a.m. in Park Township, where a van driven by 35-year-old Three Rivers resident Sherry Lynn Johnson ran off the road, into a ditch and rolled over. The accident …

Residents in St. Joseph and Branch counties are asked to check their mailboxes for a survey to be sent soon by the Prairie River Watershed Planning Project. Project director Rachel Smith said as part of the Prairie River Watershed Planning Project, replies from residents in the watershed area are critical, as they are considered the people who know the watershed …