St Joseph County

The St. Joseph County United Way surpassed its $650,000 goal for its 2012 campaign, executive director Kelly Hostetler said. The announcement came Thursday during a celebration and recognition event at the Doyle Center in Sturgis. Hostetler said $680,000 was raised, an increase of $79,000 from 2011. Hostetler said Sturgis Hospital led the way in 2012, with $48,000 in donations from …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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.

The Mendon Downtown Development Authority is hoping it can find a buyer for the Wakeman House, believed to be the oldest building in the village. The DDA recently completed the purchase of the one-time hotel for $170,000 after it was foreclosed. The purchase price includes all contents. Operated most recently as the Mendon Country Inn bed and breakfast, the 10-bedroom …

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 …

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 …