Government

Colon Will Increase Water Bills

Residential and commercial water bills in the village of Colon will soon feature a newly added monthly service fee of almost a dollar. Starting in March, the 89-cent-per-month fee will be added to the 630 water customers within the village limits to help generate $6,000 toward a new fire/rescue agreement between the village and township. Colon Township was paying all …

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Hondo Caught Thief

The Three Rivers Police Department announced a 26-year-old man was charged with retail theft following an incident at 11 p.m. Tuesday. The man, a Three Rivers resident whose name was not released, allegedly tried to steal beer from a store in the 100 block of North Main Street. A clerk said the man fled north through an alley. The department’s …

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Be Careful Of Thin Ice

Three Rivers Fire Department Chief Dan Tomlinson issued a statement Thursday, warning people to be aware of thin ice. Tomlinson said fluctuating temperatures this winter have resulted in unsafe ice coverage at many lakes. He cited lake-rescue incidents in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties as situations where poor judgment led to consequences that could have been fatal. He said the …

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Extended Contract For Fire Dept.

Lockport Township officials have agreed to extend a contract for service with the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department. Monday’s vote to approve the two-year pact means the Fabius-Park department will continue providing fire-protection service for the area of Lockport Township north of the St. Joseph River and west of Neaman Road. The $80,000-a-year agreement continues the township’s coverage another 24 months. …

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Railroad Crossing Repairs

Repair crews who spent last week correcting a bumpy railroad crossing on U.S. 12 in Sturgis will be back today to perform additional work. City officials said the work will center on a warped railroad tie on the tracks located on West Chicago Road, the busiest east-west route in the city. The Michigan Department of Transportation will be handling traffic …

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Man Hurt In Accident

A Three Rivers man was treated for injuries suffered in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning in Constantine Township. Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Constantine resident Gene Foreman was driving east on North River Road when he crossed the centerline and his vehicle struck a westbound pickup driven by Thomas McGee. McGee was transported from the scene …

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New Finance Director Welcomed

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners had occasion last week to meet and welcome Judie Ratering, the county’s new finance director. During the commission’s twice-a-month meeting last week, Ratering introduced herself and said despite being on the job just two days at the time, she expressed confidence in her ability to uphold the duties of her office.

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Cattle die in barn fire

Authorities in southwestern Michigan say a fire broke out in a 10,000-square-foot barn housing about 60 dairy cattle, killing about 20 of them and taking dozens of firefighters hours to extinguish.  Buchanan Township fire Captain Steve Mullen said the fire was reported about 10:50 a.m. Wednesday at the farm, which is in Berrien County.  Mullen says the fire appears to be …

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Fire Department Says Use Caution

Area fire departments are urging residents to exercise caution with alternative sources of heat. The warning comes as three fires in the past two weeks, including two last weekend, are believed to have started from alternative heat sources. The most recent fire was reported Sunday night at a residence in the 10600 block of Hayman Road in Fabius Township. A …

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Couple To Occupy Historic House

A husband-and-wife team has been approved to occupy a historic house on the grounds of a popular county park. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week reached an agreement with Dave Ludders and Caitlin Haring to live in the Dolly Reed House at Rawson’s King Mill Park. In lieu of paying rent, the couple will be responsible for …

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