County Information

Volunteers from the St. Joseph County United Way will be at various intersections next week handing out donuts as a thank you to St. Joseph County for its support of the Centreville-based agency. The gesture also is a reminder that the so-called Donut Drive means the local United Way is kicking off its 2013 campaign. Executive Director Kelly Hostetler said …

Florence Township Supervisor Tom Young has filed paperwork to seek a recount, following his three-vote defeat in last week’s primary election. County Clerk Pattie Bender said the hand recount was requested Wednesday and will be conducted at 10 a.m. Aug. 24 in the second-floor conference room at the county courthouse. Young was defeated, 65-62, by Gordon Evilsizor in the Aug. …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police post in Coldwater and its detachment in White Pigeon were summoned around 8 p.m. Tuesday in response to an improvised explosive device. The device was found in about two feet of water by a swimmer on the east side of Grey Lake in Sherman Township. Members of the state police bomb squad were called …

Members of the St. Joseph County Conservation District and 18 volunteers removed approximately 500 pounds of debris from a stretch of the Nottawa Creek last weekend. The three-mile stretch, from the Shorts Road bridge to the Fulton Road bridge in Leonidas Township, resulted in the recovery of two sunken aluminum boats, an extensive amount of glass bottles and aluminum cans, …

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson has announced the agency has been awarded an improved rating by the Insurance Services Office. As a result of the agency’s rating from Class 5 to Class 4 effective Aug. 1, insurance premiums for a number of residential, commercial and industrial property owners within the city limits could decrease. Tomlinson said the ISO’s …

Organizers of this weekend’s Mendon Riverfest have issued a reminder that many of the activities set to take place during the three-day celebration require advance registration. The festival’s website has sign-up forms for prospective participants in the Riverfest parade, its arts and crafts exhibit, Saturday’s Hornet Hustle 5K run, a fishing tournament, canoe swamp, canoe race, kayak race and Thursday’s …

Troopers from the Michigan State Police detachment in White Pigeon are investigating an incident during which a man pointed a gun at a group of children at a rural location in Mendon Township. A group of four children were riding bicycles Thursday on Wakeman Road, west of Baer Road, when a man in a green GMC pickup truck pointed a …

An irrigation panel was damaged during an incident between Aug. 4 and 5 in a field on Peck Academy Road in Constantine Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the damage to a center-pivot irrigation system came shortly after the pivot had been repaired from having its copper wire stolen. The extent of damage and cost of repairs was …

Park Township officials have accepted a low bid of $29,000 to demolish the former Parkville Christian Community Church. During action last week, the township board approved the bid from Three Rivers-based Roberts Brothers Excavating, which could begin the tear-down process as early as by the end of the month. The 146-year-old building has been deemed unsafe by township officials and …

A 50-year-old Nottawa woman remains in critical condition as she recovers from being struck by a car while riding her bike last week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Esther Schmucker has been at Bronson Methodist Hospital since she was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Jeremy Conley, of Sturgis. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. Thursday …