Injuries following one-car crash

A 65-year-old Kalamazoo woman was treated for injuries she suffered last week following a one-car crash in Flowerfield Township.

Officials from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Donna Rees was driving west on M-216 when she said she swerved to avoid striking a small animal and drove off the roadway east of Bent Road.

Witnesses told investigators they observed her speeding and driving erratically prior to the rollover accident.

Rees was cited for failure to drive with due care, police said.

March unemployment report

The March unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by half a percent compared to a month earlier.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 7.3 percent March unemployment rate was less than February’s 7.8 percent.

Furthermore, the March unemployment rate was 1.9 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was 9.2 percent.

St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 8.8 percent in March.

The agency said seasonal job additions in the fields of construction, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services contributed to the region’s unemployment drop.

At 5.9 percent, Barry County had the region’s lowest unemployment rate in March, while Van Buren County had the highest, with 9.6 percent.

Biosolids foam-over contained

A biosolids foam-over event from the Autoheated Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion system Wednesday morning was contained within the newly constructed containment area at the Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to James Baker, plant superintendent.

The containment area was constructed to serve as a final protective barrier to prevent biosolids foam from entering Lincoln Street and the city’s storm-sewer system.

The recently completed containment area performed as designed and prevented the release of more than 1,400 gallons of foam into the street, Baker said.

An automation system is in place to prevent high foam conditions within the ATAD, Baker said.

Funds for restoration of businesses

Electric-transmission company ITC Holdings has made a financial contribution to the village of Colon to help with the restoration of a row of businesses destroyed by fire nearly two months ago.

The $10,000 donation was presented this week to village president Tom Tenney. ITC officials hand-delivered the check to Tenney, who expressed his gratitude for the funds.

A Prudential real estate office and Curly’s bar and restaurant were complete losses, while Five Star Pizza is remodeling and expected to open by the end of the month.

The $10,000 will go toward renovations of the three-business block along State Street in the village’s downtown district.

The donation was part of the company’s charitable giving program, which also deals with disaster relief.

Sewer overflow stopped

The sanitary sewer overflow into the St. Joseph River that began last week has been stopped, according to the city of Three Rivers Department of Public Services and its Waste Water Treatment Plant.

City crews were able to access the location Monday morning to make the confirmation.

Pipe-flow capacity analysis and discharge estimates are still being calculated, but currently indicate the overflow stopped around 10 p.m. Wednesday last week, three days after the situation was initially detected.

A final written report will be submitted to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality detailing the estimated volume of discharge, specific timeline of events, actions taken to reduce the impact of the discharge and actions that will be taken to reduce the occurrence of future discharge.

Teens injured in crash

Three Colon teens were among five people injured in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend in Colon Township.

Investigators said it appears alcohol and excessive speeding were potential factors contributing to the 4 a.m. Sunday crash on Wattles Road. A department media release indicated the vehicle was being driven west on Wattles Road when it veered off the roadway and struck a tree.

All five occupants were transported from the scene either by ambulance or medical helicopter.

The sheriff’s department said Colon residents Jadalyn Riechart, 18, suffered several fractures and is in fair condition; Tanner Cook, 18, is in fair condition with no report of his injuries listed; and Samantha Carr, 17, is critical with swelling on her brain.

Jesse Bowen, 22, of White Pigeon, is in fair condition and 18-year-old Sturgis resident Taylor Farmer was treated and released from Sturgis Hospital.

A grief counselor is expected to be at Colon High School today, sheriff’s officials said.

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