Fire/Rescue

The Park Township Board has approved an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate sought by American Metal Fab for personal property in the amount of $768,175. The 12-year tax abatement for replacement equipment and new equipment will enable the company to retain its 58 employees and, hopefully, add to its workforce in the future. Action on the matter came during the …

The Lockport Township Board is continuing to move toward signing a 15-year fire protection service agreement with the City of Three Rivers Fire Department (TRFD), beginning in 2014. In keeping with unanimous action during their May 13th meeting to accept a three-point proposal from Three Rivers, board members agreed Monday evening (June 10th) to move ahead with development of a …

Nine fire departments, including six from St. Joseph County, responded to a commercial blaze Wednesday in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The manufacturing section of Southern Michigan Rubber Co., located on M-60 near the St. Joseph County line, was destroyed by the afternoon blaze. Company officials indicated the fire appeared to have started near the rear of the building in a …

A LaGrange County man suspected of setting fire to a Sturgis restaurant in 2009 was sentenced to prison Wednesday for unrelated felonies. Nathan Lumbard, 30, was ordered to serve a six-year sentence in Indiana after he completes a sentence he is currently serving in Kentucky, where he will be incarcerated until June 2014. Lumbard, who has yet to stand trial …

The White Pigeon Township Board of Trustees approved its 2013-14 fiscal year budget this week. The five-member board Tuesday approved its $455,000 budget, which is less than its budget one year earlier. Clerk David Girton said projected expenses from the general fund are $221,467, while expenses from the township’s fire department and cemetery fund are expected to be $177,300 and …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has revived its Honor Guard, county commissioner Rick Shaffer announced this week. During commissioner comments at the conclusion of Tuesday’ meeting, Shaffer said the five-person team will be called upon to serve at funerals for dignitaries, retired or current police officers, or fire department personnel. Shaffer said the quintet is comprised of active sheriff’s …

Several fire departments responded to a blaze Wednesday afternoon at Southern Michigan Rubber, located on M-60 in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The fire reportedly started in a dust collector which is located in an area where rubber gaskets are manufactured. Twenty workers escaped from the building when the fire was discovered. The facility was a total loss.

The Three Rivers Fire Department is overseeing a free CPR/AED training session, thanks to a grant received by the St. Joseph County United Way. Training will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22 at the Church of the Nazarene, on Coon Hollow Road in Three Rivers. Participation will be limited to the first 50 registered participants, who must …

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 owners of Curly’s bar and restaurant in downtown Colon expect this week to finalize rebuilding plans. Dan and Kathy Earl have purchased the corner business on East State Street that previously housed a Prudential real estate office. The acquisition will add nearly 2,000 square feet when the new Curly’s opens – likely before the end of the year. The …