New member for Sturgis Fire Dept.

Two promotions and a new full-time employee have been announced by the Sturgis Fire Department.

Deputy Chief Andy Strudwick said Cody Cripe and Andy Kiss were promoted to the rank of captain.

Meanwhile, Joel Hohn was brought on board as a full-time employee after serving in a part-time capacity since 2007.

Cripe joined the department in 2003, while Kiss has been a member for more than seven years, starting as a paramedic for Sturgis Ambulance.

Sign up for CERT Training

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department and the Centreville Fire Department are hosting a Community Emergency Response Team class.

The three-part program starts Jan. 19 and continues Feb. 2 and 16 at the sheriff’s department. It will run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch will be provided.

The Community Emergency Response Team program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area, and trains them in basic disaster-response skills, such as fire safety, search-and-rescue, team organization and disaster-medical operations.

Sheriff Brad Balk said people who go through CERT training have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community, and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of these hazards on themselves, their homes or workplace.

To register for the free training, Capt. Jason Bingaman may be reached at 467-9045, ext. 233.

Woman and children injured in accident

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 7:50 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Vera Drive.

Wallace was transported by ambulance to Elkhart General Hospital, where she was treated for unspecified injuries. Her passengers, ages 9 and 7 years, were treated at the scene and released to family members.

Alcohol was not a factor in the accident and seatbelts were worn.

ISO rating improved

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 in Michigan to be at that level. For the sake of comparison, in Michigan, there are 27 Class 3 departments, one Class 2 department and no Class 1 departments.

Efforts to achieve the reclassification were a tenacious process, Smith said, noting that ISO stands for Insurance Services Office.

In essence, Smith and Strudwick said, the ISO class rating determines the overall preparedness and operations of a fire department. The rating is issued following an on-site inspection by ISO officials.

2012 List of Accomplishments

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 highlights includes the election of incoming judges David Tomlinson and Rob Pattison; approval of the articles of incorporation for a St. Joseph County Building Authority; Scott Hopkins replacing Jimmie Barnes as emergency services coordinator; a three-year, $300,000 commitment to enhancing the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit; the formation of a committee to study the development of a senior center in Sturgis; and an agreement with the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corp., which developed a partnership with Southwest Michigan First and Southwest Michigan Partnership, LLC.

Highlights of County Board in 2012

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 a county building authority.

In addition, Shaffer’s highlights included approving ballot language for millage renewals of the central dispatch and commission on aging agencies.

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