Keep the Wreath Green

The Sturgis Fire Department has started its 2012 “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign.

Department officials said they have placed at the front of the North Nottawa Street station a wreath clad in green lights, except for the top, which is yellow to honor those in the armed forces.

Every time the department responds to a fire call, a red bulb will replace a green bulb. This goal is to keep the wreath free of red lights during the holiday season.

The wreath will stay up until Jan. 3.

Cook says goodbye

Co-workers gathered Friday to say goodbye to a longtime employee at the St. Joseph County Central Dispatch agency in Centreville.

Susan Cook, who has worked for the Centreville-based department for more than 20 years, was the recipient of numerous well-wishers from police and fire agencies throughout the county, as she is retiring.

Cook said the biggest changes she has seen in 20 years is the use of technology and how it has made it easier to pinpoint the location of phone calls and track the closest emergency responder.

Oasis re-opens

The Oasis restaurant, a Three Rivers eatery that sustained heavy damage in a Sept. 14 fire, re-opened last week.

Owner John Samoilis said the reconstruction process was a laborious task but completed in time for it to open Thursday last week.

Though the cause of the fire was not determined, the blaze was confirmed to have started in the kitchen.

Fabius-Park Township Fire Contract renewed

Flowerfield Township officials have agreed to renew the township’s contract with the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department.

During action last week, township officials agreed to the fixed-rate payment of $18,000 for service to the eastern half of the township through 2013.

The township has a separate agreement with Marcellus for coverage on the western half of Flowerfield Township’s jurisdiction.

Park Township paid off loan

Park Township has paid off the loan used to help purchase its half of the Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department station.

Following action its members took last week, the Park Township Board of Trustees agreed to allocate the final amount to cover the $300,000 loan it took out to help cover the $750,000 it needed for its half of the $1.5 million station.

Most of the money the township used to pay off the debt came from proceeds generated through the sale of properties it, Fabius and Lockport townships collectively owned on the south side of Millard Street.

The Fabius-Park Townships Fire Department and administrative building is on West Broadway Road.

Honoring Hopkins

A number of city officials and Sturgis residents attended an open house last week to honor outgoing deputy fire chief Scott Hopkins.

A 40-year veteran of the department, Hopkins begins working this week in Centreville as the county’s emergency services coordinator. Hopkins will work under Jim Barnes, who is retiring from the position next month.

As coordinator of emergency services, Hopkins will earn about $47,500 annually.

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