Fire/Rescue

A Three Rivers woman and her two children were treated for injuries after they were involved in a one-car accident over the weekend. Cass County officials said Ginnie Wallace, 40, was driving east on U.S. 12 in Porter Township when she fell asleep and drove into a generator and pole, according to a department media release. The incident occurred at …

Deputy Sgt. Geoffrey Smith of the Sturgis Police Department and deputy fire chief Andrew Strudwick have announced the city’s fire department has improved its ISO rating from a Class 6 to a Class 4. In a recent presentation before members of the city commission, Smith and Strudwick said the Class 4 status makes the Sturgis Fire Department one of 87 …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Chairman Rick Shaffer compiled a list of 2012 accomplishments and noteworthy tidbits relevant to county-related matters. During last week’s final county commission meeting of the year, Shaffer reviewed a list of 31 items he noted as highlights. Shaffer also added he appreciates the work his fellow commissioners put in in 2012. The list of …

A partnership with Southwest Michigan First was one of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners highlights in 2012, according to board chairman Rick Shaffer. Shaffer last week presented a list of the commission’s 2012 highlights, which also included an agreement for additional staffing in the MSU Extension office, the revision of an Animal Control ordinance and the creation of …

The Sturgis Fire Department has started its 2012 “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign. Department officials said they have placed at the front of the North Nottawa Street station a wreath clad in green lights, except for the top, which is yellow to honor those in the armed forces. Every time the department responds to a fire call, a red bulb …

Co-workers gathered Friday to say goodbye to a longtime employee at the St. Joseph County Central Dispatch agency in Centreville. Susan Cook, who has worked for the Centreville-based department for more than 20 years, was the recipient of numerous well-wishers from police and fire agencies throughout the county, as she is retiring. Cook said the biggest changes she has seen …

The Oasis restaurant, a Three Rivers eatery that sustained heavy damage in a Sept. 14 fire, re-opened last week. Owner John Samoilis said the reconstruction process was a laborious task but completed in time for it to open Thursday last week. Though the cause of the fire was not determined, the blaze was confirmed to have started in the kitchen.

Flowerfield Township officials have agreed to renew the township’s contract with the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department. During action last week, township officials agreed to the fixed-rate payment of $18,000 for service to the eastern half of the township through 2013. The township has a separate agreement with Marcellus for coverage on the western half of Flowerfield Township’s jurisdiction.

Park Township has paid off the loan used to help purchase its half of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department station. Following action its members took last week, the Park Township Board of Trustees agreed to allocate the final amount to cover the $300,000 loan it took out to help cover the $750,000 it needed for its half of the $1.5 …

A number of city officials and Sturgis residents attended an open house last week to honor outgoing deputy fire chief Scott Hopkins. A 40-year veteran of the department, Hopkins begins working this week in Centreville as the county’s emergency services coordinator. Hopkins will work under Jim Barnes, who is retiring from the position next month. As coordinator of emergency services, …