Commercial-News, Penny Saver, & Sturgis Sentinel

TR man helps Elkhart man reunite with racecar thought lost for 60 years

TR man helps Elkhart man reunite with racecar thought lost for 60 years

Editorial Staff Aug 1, 2025 4 min read

THREE RIVERS — An Elkhart, Ind. man who thought he would never again see the car he and his father built got an amazing surprise nearly 60 years later, thanks to the power of the Internet and the curiosity of…

Out and About: Zippers, ponderings, and love

Out and About: Zippers, ponderings, and love

Editorial Staff Aug 1, 2025 2 min read

“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” -Joan of ArcLook at your zipper. See the initials YKK? It stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushibibaisha, the world’s largest zipper manufacturer.A few Ponderisms:•I used to eat a lot of natural…

Rainy weather no bother at Burr Oak Heritage Festival

Rainy weather no bother at Burr Oak Heritage Festival

Editorial Staff Aug 1, 2025 4 min read

By Steve Eldridge BURR OAK — There’s an old saying that goes “Don’t rain on my parade.”During last weekend’s 16th Annual Burr Oak Heritage Festival, that’s exactly what the thought was, as inclement weather was predicted well before the four-day…

Local school districts seeking operating millage renewal on August ballot

Editorial Staff Aug 1, 2025 4 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director MENDON — Three local school districts will have renewals of their operating millage on the ballot for their communities next week.On Tuesday, Aug. 5, voters in the Mendon, Nottawa and Marcellus school districts will decide whether…

Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed

Mike’s Musings: Traverse City violence too close to home- action needed

Editorial Staff Jul 30, 2025 3 min read

Here we go again. This time it is too close to home. Another alleged nut-job gone crazy injuring a dozen people, some critical at a Wal Mart, not with a gun, but with an ordinary pocketknife. If it weren’t for…

Sass in the City returns to downtown Three Rivers next week

Sass in the City returns to downtown Three Rivers next week

Editorial Staff Jul 25, 2025 3 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The annual “ladies’ night out” in downtown Three Rivers will take place once again next week.On Friday, Aug. 1, the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority will hold the annual Sass in the City…

Coleman resigns from Road Commission board

Coleman resigns from Road Commission board

Editorial Staff Jul 25, 2025 6 min read

Resignation comes amid allegations of ‘bashing’ county commissioners in online comments By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — St. Joseph County Road Commission board member Jack Coleman resigned from his position Friday following a Wednesday, July 16 agency meeting in which…

‘Toy Run’ gets rebrand, but primary charitable focus remains intact

‘Toy Run’ gets rebrand, but primary charitable focus remains intact

Editorial Staff Jul 25, 2025 3 min read

By Dennis Volkert After a gap of several years, a longtime tradition resurfaced July 19 with “Route 12 Toy Run.”The 2025 run began at Route 12 Harley-Davidson on U.S. 12 and White School Road. The parade of riders continued into…

Man arrested in Sturgis after barricading in home

Editorial Staff Jul 25, 2025 1 min read

STURGIS — A domestic violence call in Sturgis turned into a situation involving a barricaded man Tuesday night.According to the Sturgis Department of Public Safety, officers were called to the 300 block of West Jerolene Street for a domestic assault…

Mike’s Musings: “Pay It Forward” Is a Powerful Idea Worth Embracing

Mike’s Musings: “Pay It Forward” Is a Powerful Idea Worth Embracing

Editorial Staff Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

In a world often overshadowed by cynicism, economic struggle, and divisive headlines, the simple idea of “paying it forward” offers a powerful counterbalance. It’s a concept built on selflessness—doing something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return, trusting…

Out and About: Women, cardio, and walking

Out and About: Women, cardio, and walking

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 3 min read

There is not a book that explains everything a man must know in order to better understand women. We must continue to learn from experience, or listen to a person who has dealt with the fairer sex longer than you…

Graber, Nash to share leadership at Norton Elementary

Graber, Nash to share leadership at Norton Elementary

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 6 min read

District to continue ‘conversation’ about Norton’s future as initial elementary enrollment decreases By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Two Three Rivers Community Schools administrators will be sharing leadership duties at Norton Elementary in what the school board says is…

Heritage Festival takes center stage in Burr Oak

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 3 min read

By Steve Eldridge “A More Perfect Union” is the theme for the 2025 Burr Oak Heritage Festival, which is scheduled to kick off next Thursday July 24. The festival, which has always proved to be a big draw for the…

White Pigeon celebrates annual festival

White Pigeon celebrates annual festival

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 1 min read

On Friday, July 11, the White Pigeon Days festival held its annual street parade on U.S. 12 in the village. At left, Citizens of the Year Kelly (left) and Brian Bailey (right) ride by in a golf cart during the…

‘Color Run’ draws about 150 participants

‘Color Run’ draws about 150 participants

Editorial Staff Jul 18, 2025 2 min read

By Dennis Volkert The third “Color Run” took place July 11 in downtown Sturgis, organized by Doyle Community Center. The event included 1-mile and 3-mile routes. Participants could run or walk. At several sites along each route was a “color station,”…

Mike’s Musings: It’s Time for the Fed to Lower Interest Rates – Before It’s Too Late

Mike’s Musings: It’s Time for the Fed to Lower Interest Rates – Before It’s Too Late

Editorial Staff Jul 16, 2025 4 min read

The Federal Reserve has done its job. Inflation, which recently reached its highest point in forty years, has gradually moderated. The labor market, while still resilient, shows signs of softening. Consumer confidence is shaky, small businesses are tightening their belts,…

Centreville-Constantine/Lutz intersection to receive roundabout

Centreville-Constantine/Lutz intersection to receive roundabout

Robert Tomlinson Jul 16, 2025 7 min read

Road Comm.: Centreville-Constantine/Lutz roundabout to make intersection safer By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Since its creation, Centreville-Constantine Road has been a heavily-traveled thoroughfare in St. Joseph County, running diagonal from, fittingly, Centreville to just east of Constantine. However, that…

Resurfacing begins on U.S. 12 Jacob-to-Maple segment in Sturgis

Resurfacing begins on U.S. 12 Jacob-to-Maple segment in Sturgis

Dennis Volkert Jul 14, 2025 1 min read

Beginning July 14, Michigan Department of Transportation will begin resurfacing of U.S. 12 in downtown Sturgis, from Jacob Street to South Maple Street.  Paving takes place from evening until early morning, 7 p.m.-7 a.m., to reduce interruption of daytime traffic…

BHSJ outlines plans, strategies with program to reduce crashes involving Amish

BHSJ outlines plans, strategies with program to reduce crashes involving Amish

Robert Tomlinson Jul 14, 2025 8 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — According to Michigan State Police’s traffic crash reporting system, at least 78 of the 261 known crashes involving the Amish community in the state between 2016 and 2023 have been reported in St. Joseph,…