Government

Authorities say two people were found dead following a fire in northern Indiana. Crews responded early Sunday to a 911 call reporting a fire in Elkhart County, near Goshen. Crews from four departments worked to extinguish the blaze. The Concord Township Fire Department says one person from the home was safe after the fire. Names of the dead weren’t immediately …

A Sherman Township residence was forcibly entered and burglarized last week. Sheriff’s deputies were called around 9:30 p.m. Thursday to the 63000 block of East Fish Lake Road. A number of items were taken, though a full inventory was not indicated in a department media release. The manner through which access to the residence was gained was not mentioned, either.

One person suffered minor injuries earlier this week when his vehicle was struck by a train at Hoffman Street in Three Rivers. The crash occurred around 2 p.m. Tuesday, when the front of the westbound car was struck by the train. The driver was taken to Three Rivers Health for treatment. Additional information about the driver was not available from …

Meeting dates and time for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will remain unchanged in 2018 from last year. As a matter of housekeeping at Tuesday’s first meeting of the year, commissioners agreed to keep their meeting schedule at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Its executive committee schedule will also remain the same; commissioners …

Dennis Allen will serve as chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in 2018. Commissioners agreed Tuesday to appoint the 62-year-old Allen head of the five-member panel. He replaces, Allen Balog, who was named vice chairman. Allen, who is starting his second year on the board, said he appreciates the confidence of his elected peers. Allen, whose district …

Ten families were displaced after a New Year’s Eve fire about 8:45 p.m. at the Tower Motel, on North U.S. 131 in White Pigeon. First-arriving personnel found smoke coming from the eves of the building. The fire was confined to the attic area. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, as fire personnel were scheduled …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a two-car crash that occurred last week in Sherman Township. Deputies were called at 8:20 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Shimmel and Featherstone roads. Upon further investigation, they found that an eastbound car on Featherstone Road did not stop at the intersection and was struck by a pickup heading south on Shimmel Road. Three people …

State police troopers are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred last week in Sturgis Township. According to a department media release, troopers were called to the 69000 block of Hazel Street, where the victim told authorities the incident occurred in the early morning hours Dec. 19. The victim said a Bluetooth speaker, a fitness watch and cash were among the …

In a county-wide effort to encourage a more welcoming community in which to live and work, chambers of commerce in Three Rivers and Sturgis joined in 2017 to create and promote the “St. Joseph County Statement on Civility.” The statement is a document that organizations, boards of directors and committees can adopt to facilitate respectful communications and allow their meetings …

The opening of a new Commission On Aging headquarters with senior housing tops the county’s highlights in 2018, according to its board chairman. Commission chair Allen Balog said there’s plenty of good to look forward to in 2018, but personally he is most excited about a plan by COA director Tim Stoll to convert the former Three Rivers Inn into …