Central Dispatch welcomes emotional support dog to staff

Central Dispatch welcomes emotional support dog to staff

Robert TomlinsonJun 2, 20234 min read

COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSONSt. Joseph County Central Dispatch Deputy Director Regan Lucas (left) and Supervisor Rachel Gould (right) stand next to Central Dispatch’s new emotional support dog, Bolo (center), a 2-year-old standard poodle. By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — St.…

Sheriff’s Dept. looking for missing woman with Alzheimer’s, dementia

Sheriff’s Dept. looking for missing woman with Alzheimer’s, dementia

Robert TomlinsonMay 29, 20231 min read

Photo courtesy of St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a missing elderly woman that has Alzheimer’s and dementia. According to police, 73-year-old Marilee Furlong left…

Constantine schools investigating employee’s ‘inappropriate contact’ with students

Robert TomlinsonMay 26, 20231 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CONSTANTINE — A Constantine Public Schools employee is on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave amid an investigation into alleged “inappropriate contact” they had with two students. According to a statement from the school district Friday, Superintendent Joe…

No tax increases, 4 percent water/sewer increase proposed in city’s annual budget

No tax increases, 4 percent water/sewer increase proposed in city’s annual budget

Robert TomlinsonMay 26, 202310 min read

COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSONThree Rivers city commissioners discuss the city’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget during a budget hearing Tuesday. By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers residents will see no tax increases and a slight increase in water…

Man suffers life-threatening injuries after crashing into tree

Robert TomlinsonMay 22, 20231 min read

CONSTANTINE TWP. — A 57-year-old Constantine man was airlifted to a Kalamazoo hospital with what police say are life-threatening injuries after crashing his vehicle into a tree Sunday night. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched…

Crowdfunding campaign launched for Three Rivers downtown dog park

Crowdfunding campaign launched for Three Rivers downtown dog park

Robert TomlinsonMay 19, 20234 min read

Photo providedThe Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority launched a crowdfunding campaign Wednesday for a downtown dog park, located at Memory Isle Park between the skate park and the railroad tracks. LANSING — Downtown Three Rivers will transform an unused portion…

Suspect in Swartz murder found dead in South Carolina jail

Suspect in Swartz murder found dead in South Carolina jail

Robert TomlinsonMay 6, 20232 min read

Photo via Beaufort County (S.C.) Detention Center53-year-old Robert Waters, a resident of Beaufort, S.C., was arrested Sunday by police in the 1988 death of Cathy Swartz in Three Rivers. By Robert TomlinsonNews Director BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. — The man arrested…

May elections: Centreville bond passes, Constantine bond defeated again

Robert TomlinsonMay 2, 20235 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — School bond proposals in St. Joseph County went 1-for-2 in Tuesday’s special elections, with Centreville Public Schools’ school bond being approved by voters, while Constantine Public Schools’ voters struck down its third…

Arrest made in 1988 Swartz murder case

Arrest made in 1988 Swartz murder case

Robert TomlinsonMay 1, 20233 min read

Photo via Three Rivers Police Department19-year-old Cathy Swartz, pictured here, was murdered in her Three Rivers apartment in December 1988. After 35 years, an arrest was made in her death. By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — After 35 years,…

Lillywhite pleads guilty to drunk driving

Lillywhite pleads guilty to drunk driving

Robert TomlinsonApr 24, 20236 min read

COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSONSt. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite pleaded guilty in Kalamazoo County District Court Monday to two misdemeanor charges connected to a drunk driving incident on February 26 in Schoolcraft Township. By Robert TomlinsonNews Director KALAMAZOO — St.…

Man arrested, charged with making ‘terrorist threats’ against TR Middle School

Robert TomlinsonApr 17, 20232 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director UPDATED 11:18 a.m. Friday, April 18 THREE RIVERS — A Three Rivers man was arrested Monday for allegedly making a threat against Three Rivers Middle School. James Roberts, 54, was charged with making a false report…

Downtown TR backdrop for scenes in TR native’s upcoming film

Downtown TR backdrop for scenes in TR native’s upcoming film

Robert TomlinsonApr 14, 20235 min read

COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSONThe crew and extras of the independent film “Postal Greed” pose for a picture at GG’s Cookies during filming of a few scenes in downtown Three Rivers Tuesday. Pictured from left to right are extras Melissa Love,…

Misdemeanor charges authorized against Lillywhite in February crash

Misdemeanor charges authorized against Lillywhite in February crash

Robert TomlinsonApr 6, 20233 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director KALAMAZOO — St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite was officially charged Thursday with two misdemeanors, including drunk driving, stemming from a crash that occurred in February. According to documents filed by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office,…

Informational meetings scheduled for Constantine school bond proposal

Robert TomlinsonMar 21, 20231 min read

CONSTANTINE — Constantine Public Schools will be holding two informational meetings on its upcoming May bond proposal within the next month. The first informational meeting will be held Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Constantine High School Media…

Censure resolution for Allen proposed by city

Censure resolution for Allen proposed by city

Robert TomlinsonMar 20, 20234 min read

COMMERCIAL-NEWS | ROBERT TOMLINSONAt-Large Three Rivers City Commissioner Lucas Allen stands up from his seat during one of his outbursts at the March 7, 2023 Three Rivers City Commission meeting. Commissioners will be taking up a resolution for censuring Allen…

Man rescued from vehicle in St. Joseph River

Man rescued from vehicle in St. Joseph River

Robert TomlinsonMar 17, 20232 min read

Photo provided by St. Joseph County Sheriff’s DepartmentA man in his vehicle was rescued from the St. Joseph River Thursday night by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department dive and rescue team. Pictured is the vehicle in the water before…