Sturgis man killed in head-on vehicle crash
NOTTAWA TWP. — A 68-year-old Sturgis man was killed in a crash in Nottawa Township Wednesday night. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area of M-86 and Findley Road for a reported crash. Deputies…
Two pedestrians killed in White Pigeon Twp. crash
WHITE PIGEON TWP. — A pair of pedestrians were killed early Thursday morning after they were struck by a vehicle in White Pigeon Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the area of Eagley…
Glass drops 41 in TR girls win over Paw Paw; falls just short of school record
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — On a night where four people were inducted into Three Rivers High School’s Athletics Hall of Fame, it was a Three Rivers senior’s Hall-of-Fame-worthy performance that stole the show Friday night. Senior guard…
Woman dies in Lockport Twp. fire
LOCKPORT TWP. — A Three Rivers woman died in a camper fire that occurred Saturday. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, the fire occurred in the 57000 block of Mitchell Road, located next to the Three Rivers Dr.…
Sturgis man charged in alleged abuse of adopted daughter
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A Sturgis man was formally arraigned and charged Monday for the alleged sexual abuse of his adopted daughter over nearly a decade. According to St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah Davis, 57-year-old Raymond Bontrager was…
Sturgis man arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting adoptive daughter
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A Sturgis man was arrested Sunday on criminal sexual conduct charges that prosecutors allege stem from nine years of purported sexual abuse of his adoptive daughter. According to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office,…
No one injured in Fabius Twp. house fire
FABIUS TWP. — No injuries were reported following an early-morning fire in Fabius Township Saturday morning. According to the Fabius-Park Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched at 3 a.m. to a home in the 11000 block of Lakeshore Drive for a…
Sand sentenced to 5-15 years for sexual assault of minors
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A prison sentence was handed down Friday to a former food service worker at Mendon Junior/Senior High School accused of sexually assaulting minors. Kaitlyn Sand was sentenced by Judge Paul Stutesman in St. Joseph…
Lockport Twp. repeals solar ordinance
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director LOCKPORT TWP. — The sun set Monday on a solar ordinance in Lockport Township. By a unanimous 5-0 vote, the Lockport Township Board approved a repeal of their 2023 solar ordinance, which governed large-scale and small-scale…
TR mayor pledges ‘cooperation’ between city, townships; says library Qs ‘on shortlist’
Some details revealed of committee meeting between Johnston, township officials By Robert TomlinsonNews Director LOCKPORT TWP. — In a sight that would have been unfathomable just last year, a sitting Three Rivers mayor was greeted with applause by Lockport Township…
White Pigeon schools closed due to possible threat
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director UPDATED 12:39 p.m. Jan. 16, 2026 WHITE PIGEON — White Pigeon Community Schools are closed Friday, Jan. 16 due to what district officials called a “potential threat.” In a Facebook post Friday morning, the district stated…
Falcon Fund established to help Constantine students afford career exploration, extracurriculars
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CONSTANTINE — As a student at Constantine High School in the mid-to-late 2000s, Casey Smagala and his family weren’t able to afford many extracurricular opportunities that would have enhanced his educational experience, in particular the school’s…
Mendon boys dominate Marcellus, reach Holiday Tournament finals today
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director MENDON — A slow start did not faze the Mendon boys’ basketball team, as they erupted for a 29-6 advantage in the second quarter en route to a 69-38 drubbing of Marcellus in the first round…
Mendon Twp. man in stable condition after accidentally shooting self
MENDON TWP. — A man in Mendon Township is in stable and good condition at a local hospital after accidentally shooting himself. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, the man, who was not identified, was placing a loaded…
Bohne sentenced to prison on child abuse, assault charges in death of child
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Paige Nichole Bohne of Sturgis was sentenced in St. Joseph County 45th Circuit Court Thursday in the death of her 2-year-old child. The 22-year-old was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman to 225…
Centreville schools launches Food Club for district students and families
New initiative gets groceries, toiletries into students’ hands for free By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — According to Centreville Public Schools, in its over-900 student population, 53 percent of those students get free or reduced-price lunch every day. With food…
TR girls’ basketball dominates first quarter, defeats Vicksburg on road
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director VICKSBURG — Dominant first-quarter defense and tenacity down the stretch led to the Three Rivers girls’ basketball team getting their first win of the 2025-26 season against Vicksburg Friday night, defeating the host Bulldogs 43-35. The…
Sand pleads no contest to third-degree CSC charges; other charges dropped
Sentencing scheduled for Jan. 23 By Robert TomlinsonNews Director This article has been updated to reflect the actual age of Sand as 34. The Commercial-News apologizes for the error. CENTREVILLE — A former contracted food service employee at Mendon Junior/Senior…
Schoolcraft stymied in state finals loss to Menominee
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director DETROIT — Schoolcraft’s first trip to the MHSAA Division 7 football state finals since 2001 Sunday ended in defeat, as the Eagles were stifled by a relentless Menominee team in a 34-6 loss at Ford Field.…
‘Make We Merry’ holiday variety show being revived by TRAM
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — For decades, Make We Merry was a staple of the holiday season in the Three Rivers area. The annual holiday variety show, originally put on by the Three Rivers Community Players as their…


























