Rushing attack helps Three Rivers get first win of season on homecoming

Rushing attack helps Three Rivers get first win of season on homecoming

Robert TomlinsonSep 30, 20237 min read

Three Rivers senior quarterback/wide receiver Luis Warmack (6) celebrates after one of his two touchdown rushes in the first quarter during Friday’s 39-0 Homecoming win for the Wildcats over Plainwell. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS…

HOPE looks to bring resources, dignity and respect for city’s homeless population

HOPE looks to bring resources, dignity and respect for city’s homeless population

Robert TomlinsonSep 29, 202311 min read

Casey Tobias of Homeless Outreach Practiced Everyday (HOPE) stands outside the upcoming HOPE Resource Center at 2 Water St. in Three Rivers Thursday, Sept. 21. The organization performs outreach to the homeless community, providing them with food and hygiene baskets,…

Permit approvals recommended to city for two new marijuana retailers

Permit approvals recommended to city for two new marijuana retailers

Robert TomlinsonSep 29, 20236 min read

Jevon Weyenberg (left), co-owner of the proposed Cannabis Outlet recreational marijuana retailer in Three Rivers, and architect Cody Newman (right) present their special exception use permit application to the Three Rivers Planning Commission during their meeting Monday. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT…

2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair deemed a ‘successful’ event

2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair deemed a ‘successful’ event

Robert TomlinsonSep 29, 20236 min read

(From left to right) Blyly Mingus, Crystal Mingus and Kylie Mingus fly by on the Cliff Hanger ride at the 2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair. Hunter Moyer of Mendon holds an alligator at the Petting Zoo exhibit at the…

Downtown TR homeless resource center seeks DDA support; public hearing set after debate

Downtown TR homeless resource center seeks DDA support; public hearing set after debate

Robert TomlinsonSep 22, 202310 min read

Three Rivers DDA Executive Director Cameron Mains (left) and DDA Board Chair Andrew George (right) discuss whether or not to support the new Homeless Outreach Practiced Everyday (HOPE) homeless resource center in downtown Three Rivers during their meeting on Sept.…

Constantine comes out on top of Schoolcraft in clash of top-4 schools

Constantine comes out on top of Schoolcraft in clash of top-4 schools

Robert TomlinsonSep 16, 20237 min read

Constantine’s Bennett VandenBerg carries the ball for a big gain in the second half of Friday’s 27-21 win by the Falcons over Schoolcraft. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) Story updated 2:36 a.m. Sept. 17, 2023 By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CONSTANTINE —…

What to know about the 2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair

What to know about the 2023 St. Joseph County Grange Fair

Robert TomlinsonSep 16, 202311 min read

An archived photo from the 2019 St. Joseph County Grange Fair shows that year’s midway at night. The 2023 St. Joseph County Fair will run from Sept. 17-23. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — The biggest…

County sends letter to governor, requests Lillywhite’s removal as sheriff

County sends letter to governor, requests Lillywhite’s removal as sheriff

Robert TomlinsonSep 15, 20236 min read

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite stands in Kalamazoo County District Court in April after pleading guilty to operating while intoxicated charges. On Sept. 2, St. Joseph County commissioners officially sent a letter to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney…

‘No immediate threat’ confirmed after TR high school, middle school briefly locked down

Robert TomlinsonSep 12, 20232 min read

UPDATED AT 9:09 A.M. Wednesday, Sept. 13 By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers High School and Three Rivers Middle School went into a brief lockdown Tuesday afternoon following reports of a suspicious person in the area. According…

High School Football Roundup: Constantine wins clash with #10 Lawton, Colon wins shootout, #2 Mendon stays undefeated

Robert TomlinsonSep 9, 20239 min read

LAWTON — Facing off against a top-10 team in high school football, especially on the road, is never easy. But, against the No. 10 team in Division 7 coming into the night Friday, Constantine came away with a statement victory…

Covered Bridge restorations begin Monday

Covered Bridge restorations begin Monday

Robert TomlinsonSep 8, 20236 min read

The Langley Covered Bridge outside of Centreville will be undergoing extensive restorations beginning Monday, Sept. 11. Work, mainly on the bridge’s superstructure, will be going on until near the end of the year. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By Robert TomlinsonNews…

City approves first reading of marijuana consumption lounge amendment; Public hearing later this month

City approves first reading of marijuana consumption lounge amendment; Public hearing later this month

Robert TomlinsonSep 8, 20236 min read

First District Three Rivers City Commissioner Pat Dane (left) and Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry (right) listen to discussion Tuesday about a possible ordinance amendment to allow for special permit consideration for marijuana consumption lounges in the city. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS |…

Experienced Maples offense buries Three Rivers in loss to Adrian

Experienced Maples offense buries Three Rivers in loss to Adrian

Robert TomlinsonSep 1, 20239 min read

Three Rivers senior running back Drew McClain (4) rushes through a pile of defenders on his way to the end zone in the second quarter of Thursday’s game against Adrian, which Three Rivers lost 51-30. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By…

Michigan Ave., Main St. in TR slated for 2029 reconstruct by MDOT

Michigan Ave., Main St. in TR slated for 2029 reconstruct by MDOT

Robert TomlinsonAug 25, 20237 min read

MDOT is planning to work on the entirety of Michigan Avenue and Main Street in Three Rivers in Fiscal Year 2028, with construction expected for 2029, as part of a draft Five-Year Transportation Plan revealed earlier this month. Pictured is…

Rutten hired as new principal at Andrews Elementary

Rutten hired as new principal at Andrews Elementary

Robert TomlinsonAug 18, 20234 min read

Greg Rutten was hired back in July as the new principal at Andrews Elementary in Three Rivers. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON) By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — With a new school year comes new faces, and one local elementary…

County commission seeks removal of sheriff

County commission seeks removal of sheriff

Robert TomlinsonAug 15, 202311 min read

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite (center) makes a brief presentation on the state of the sheriff’s department during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Commissioners approved drafting a complaint letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to possibly remove…

Lowry, Mims move on to November in mayoral race

Lowry, Mims move on to November in mayoral race

Robert TomlinsonAug 8, 20233 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Voters in Three Rivers have selected their top two candidates to square off for the mayor’s seat in November. On Tuesday, incumbent Mayor Tom Lowry and challenger Vernis Mims took the top two…

More details released on Sturgis double homicide, suspect’s death

More details released on Sturgis double homicide, suspect’s death

Robert TomlinsonAug 7, 20235 min read

Sturgis Director of Public Safety Ryan Banaszak (right) and St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman (left) address media on a double homicide in Sturgis in a press conference at the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department Monday. (COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSON)…

Suspect in two Sturgis homicides shot, killed by officer

Suspect in two Sturgis homicides shot, killed by officer

Robert TomlinsonAug 6, 20232 min read

STURGIS — The search for a man suspected in two homicides Saturday night ended in the suspect being killed by police. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, 30-year-old David Keith Algarin, Jr., was shot and killed by police…

City: Lead levels in tap water above state ‘action level’

City: Lead levels in tap water above state ‘action level’

Robert TomlinsonAug 3, 20237 min read

(Photo: Commercial-News/Robert Tomlinson) Story Updated at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The City of Three Rivers is asking residents to run their water before using it after excessive levels of lead were found…