Fire/Rescue

One person was airlifted to Borgess Medical Center after a crash around 7 p.m. last Wednesday in Nottawa Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies said Centreville resident Carol Ann Walls was driving north on Nottawa Road when she failed to stop at the intersection of M-86. Walls’ vehicle struck a car headed east on M-86. Occupants of the second vehicle, Brian …

Investigators are still looking into the cause of a house fire reported around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Sherman Township. The blaze heavily damaged the residence, in the 64000 block of Shimmel Road. There were no injuries reported, though personnel from the Tri-Township Fire Department sought frequent rehabilitation from heat near 100 degrees by utilizing an emergency-response trailer brought to the …

An employee of the Marcellus Fire Department has pled guilty to embezzlement. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Nicole Olsen, 33, of Marcellus, pled guilty as charged to embezzlement over $1,000 on Monday. The victim in this matter is the Marcellus Fire Department, Fitz said. The plea requires Olsen to make restitution of more than $17,000 and includes a provision …

The Sturgis Police Department is reminding city residents that the municipality’s general noise ordinance will be enforced for fireworks-related complaints received Tuesday through Thursday. Deputy Chief David Ives said jurisdictions with a noise ordinance in place before the state’s approval of commercial-grade fireworks for the general public can be enforced. Meanwhile, the Sturgis Fire Department reminds residents that extreme caution …

Authorities say a 38-year-old woman was critically injured with extensive burns after leaning over a firework she lit in southwestern Michigan.  Kalamazoo police say the woman was setting off fireworks late Wednesday at her home with her husband. She was hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns to her face, hands, arms and torso.  Lt. Stan McDonald said investigators believe the firework …

A 53-year-old Florence Township man is in jail on suspected assault charges following an alleged incident with his wife early Monday. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Bruce Tullos, was arrested after his wife was found beaten around 4 a.m. alongside Roys Road, east of Sevison Road. The victim was airlifted to a Kalamazoo hospital and listed in critical …

A black Labrador is credited with saving a 14-month-old boy from drowning Sunday in Marcellus. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, the young man slipped away from his mother as the two were headed to their garage and he wound up in the family pool. As soon as the mother realized her son was no longer with her, she …

The Three Rivers Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire shortly after 12:30am Tuesday at Waterfront Apartments on Thomas Street. Firefighters arrived to find smoke showing, fire alarms activated, and some occupants evacuating out of the 12 units on the north half of a 24 unit building. During a door-to-door check, a total of four apartments required forcible entry …

A nitrogen fertilizer spill in Florence Township Wednesday afternoon resulted in the leakage of 90 gallons of fertilizer. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the incident occurred on Engle Road, just north of Featherstone Road. Officials said a tank was being pulled by a tractor when a weld broke. A level-gauge device snapped off when the tank dropped to …

A grass fire Wednesday in Sturgis Township burned more than five acres of a field along Stubey Road. Officials from the Tri-Township Fire Department said it appears embers from a burning barrel triggered the fire. There were no injuries reported. Fire chiefs across the county are asking for a ban on outdoor burning at least until a measurable rainfall hits …