County Information

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 …

Officials from the city of Sturgis have closed the RV dumping station near the municipal airport due to several incidents of improper and illegal use of the site. Road construction on West Lafayette Street this summer forced the station to be closed temporarily. Numerous incidents of illegal use and misuse, however, prompted city officials to close the site for good. …

Jewelry and money were reported taken during a break-in at a residence in Lockport Township last week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incident occurred in the 61000 block of Shorewood Drive. The burglary took place between Aug. 4 and 8. A media release did not indicate the method of entry.

Five St. Joseph County-based departments played a critical role in helping extinguish a large-scale fire Friday morning in Vicksburg. A 4 a.m. blaze at a former paper mill required the services of 10 fire agencies to douse an intentionally-set blaze at the 435,000-square-foot building. The facility, which has been dormant and used only for storage, served for years as the …

An assessment district for weed control in Clear Lake has been established by the Fabius Township Board. At the behest of several Clear Lake residents and the Clear Lake Improvement Association, the assessment district will allow for the financial resources needed to combat weed growth in the lake. Specifically, concern has centered on the invasive, non-native Eurasian milfoil. Clear Lake …

The 18th Great Lakes Burn Camp in Kalamazoo County had the support of a number of St. Joseph County fire departments Sunday. Some of the 64 children attending the five-day camp at Pretty Lake in Texas Township were driven to the location by personnel from five departments in the county, as well as a team from the Marcellus Fire Department. …

Two days after failing by eight votes to return to a third term as a member of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Fawn River Township resident Jerry Ware announced he will not seek a recount. Ware, a four-year member of the county board, said even though he carried Fawn River Township and one of four precinct in the …

Doug Stewart, the estranged husband of Venus Stewart, is turning to the Michigan Court of Appeals in hopes of receiving a new trial. Stewart, who was sentenced last year to life in prison for the April 2010 murder of his wife, appeared in appellate court Wednesday in Grand Rapids. The court-appointed defender for Stewart said the retrial is warranted due, …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission have approved the municipality’s 2012-13 fiscal year budget. Featuring projected revenue of about $7.5 million and operating expenses close to $6.4 million, the budget represents an increase of about half a percent from 2011-12. During Wednesday’s commission meeting, city manager Mike Hughes said the city has taken every step it can to keep expenses …

The city of Three Rivers this week recognized Captain Mark Ankney for his 30 years of service to the Three Rivers Fire Department. Mayor Tom Lowry on Monday read a proclamation detailing Ankney’s longevity and accomplishments with the department. Afterward, Lowry presented Ankney a copy of the proclamation while the audience gave a standing-ovation to acknowledge Ankney.