Fire/Rescue

The Centreville Fire Department marked the promotion of two of its officers Monday with a pinning ceremony. According to a department news release, Lt. Bryan Balk was promoted to assistant chief. Meanwhile, Larry Schlabach was promoted to lieutenant. The positions became open after the retirement of longtime assistant chief, Jody McClain. During Monday’s ceremony, members of the Centreville department were …

A head-on collision Thursday morning in Sturgis Township sent two area men to Sturgis Hospital for treatment. State police officials said 38-year-old Edwin Washington, of Three Rivers, was driving west on U.S. 12 about 7:30 a.m. when he attempted to pass a vehicle. While passing near the Shimmel Road intersection, Washington crashed his vehicle head-on into an eastbound car driven …

A 42-year-old White Pigeon resident was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital after sustaining injuries in a car-bicycle crash last week. State police investigators said John Hassinger was taken to the Kalamazoo medical facility after he was struck while riding his bike on U.S. 12 at Huff Road in White Pigeon Township. The incident occurred at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, when 30-year-old …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services has announced it will be flushing hydrants starting Tuesday and the process should continue through the month. For now, the flushing is slated to take place weeknights starting at 11 o’clock and continuing to 5 a.m. DPS officials said some rusty water may be experienced during this time. Any city resident experiencing prolonged …

An electrical problem is the suspected culprit of a fire that caused heavy smoke damage to a residence in the 69000 block of Nottawa Road in Sturgis Township Friday morning. Tri-Township firefighters saw flames from the rear of the home upon their arrival. The lone occupant, whose age was not immediately available, escaped without injury. The resident told officials he …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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.

Two county millage renewal requests and an additional renewal request in White Pigeon Township were approved during Tuesday’s primary election. The countywide votes saw the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging earn a six-year renewal of three-quarters of a mill. In addition, three-quarters of a mill renewal for six years was granted to the county E-911 central dispatch. Both renewals, …