County Information

A veteran firefighter was named Centreville’s new fire chief Monday. Chris Loker, a 20-year firefighter, will take over the department following the retirement of 13-year chief Ed Rangler last month. Loker began working at Centreville Fire Department in 2008, serving three years as lieutenant and three with Centreville Rescue. Previously, he spent 10 years on the Marcellus Fire Department, serving as lieutenant …

Three Rivers Community Schools is seeking applications for a vacant position on the board of education. The seat will expire Dec. 31, 2018. Prospective applicants should submit a letter of interest and qualifications by noon Sept. 1. Potential candidates may drop off their information to the superintendent’s office at 851 Sixth Ave. The district’s board of education will conduct interviews …

A White Pigeon man was injured after the motorcycle he was driving was struck from behind earlier this week in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard Benhke said deputies were called at 6:25 a.m. Monday to M-217 near Wayne Street. Investigation said a motorcycle driven by 32-year-old Cody Walters was rear-ended by a pickup driven by Stone Taylor, 21, of …

St. Joseph County road commissioners last week approved the purchase of two new Peterbilt asphalt distributors, according to agency manager Chris Minger. Minger said the road commission’s garage workers will be able to convert the vehicles into trucks to be used for snowplowing. Cost for the two trucks, two tar tanks, underbody scrapers, wing plows and underbody hydraulics is about $638,000. …

The first of St. Joseph County’s nine school districts returned to school Tuesday, while four others will begin classes Monday. Burr Oak Community Schools started its academic year Tuesday to stay consistent with the calendar followed by the Branch Area Careers Center. Meanwhile, students in Colon, Constantine, Mendon and White Pigeon will head back to classrooms Monday next week. The …

More than two dozen people attended Monday’s Colon Community Schools Board of Education meeting in search of answers regarding a pair of incidents dating to last school year. The issues center on a 15-year-old student who allegedly inappropriately touched more than one student, including a 6-year-old girl on a school bus last April. In May, the same student – a …

A motor boat crashed into a boat in which two Illinois men were fishing over the weekend in Cass County’s Diamond Lake. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 3:30 p.m. Sunday to the Cassopolis lake. They said 17-year-old Nicholas Peluchiwski of Chicago was driving a boat that was pulling a wake boarder. Deputies said he failed to observe …

Two Sturgis residents were arrested after they were involved in a physical confrontation last week in Sturgis. Officers were called at 5:50 p.m. Friday to North Lakeview Avenue and East Lafayette Street in response to a domestic situation. Officers reported witnessing a 28-year-old man and 25-year-old woman involved in a fight while the woman was holding their 18-month-old son. The …

Two pieces of lawn-care equipment were stolen last week from a Park Township business. Sheriff’s deputies said they were called Friday to Burnips Equipment Company, where two Bush Hog zero-turn mowers were stolen between the close of business Thursday and Friday morning. The business is located on Franklin Drive.

St. Joseph County commissioners this week agreed to make a budget amendment to the county’s Commission On Aging fund balance. The action was requested after COA director Tim Stoll gave a presentation centering on bids for an architect analysis and construction management for the agency’s potential new location at the former Three Rivers Inn. Three companies were considered for project …