Recent Posts

High school golf

The Wildcat golf team had a successful day at the South Haven Lady Ram Invitational, which also served as the Wolverine Conference tournament. The conference event had to be rescheduled due to rain last Thursday. In the conference portion of the event the Cats finished second on the day behind Sturgis. Team scores were as follows: Sturgis 372 Three Rivers …

Read More »

Residential probation center opening in Three Rivers

A new community-based residential probation center is opening in Three Rivers Events to mark the opening of the center take place Tuesday. Twin County Community Probation Center Inc. received a $2.1 million loan guarantee from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Community Facilities program to renovate and repurpose a shuttered grocery store into the center. The USDA says the facility will …

Read More »

Conservation District gives away kayak

A Sturgis woman was the winner of a kayak, offered by the St. Joseph County Conservation District during the recent county fair. Locye Wenzel’s name was drawn from several hundred entries collected during the weeklong Centreville-based fair. Carolyn Grace, conservation district director, said Wenzel indicated she will take advantage of her good fortune next summer by learning from her grandsons …

Read More »

Two arrested after suspicious credit card activity

Two Detroit residents were arrested last week after allegedly trying to use unauthorized credit cards to purchase cigarettes in Three Rivers. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, authorities were called Wednesday to the Shell gas station on North Main Street in response to a report of suspicious activity involving a credit card. Upon arrival, officers questioned what turned …

Read More »

Several items stolen from vehicle

A variety of items were stolen from a car during a larceny-from-a-motor-vehicle incident last week in Lockport Township. Troopers were called Sept. 25 to the 58000 block of Ash Road, where the window of a Ford Explorer was broken. The incident occurred between 1 and 7:30 a.m. Investigators said two cross bows, tools and an in-car portable TV with DVD …

Read More »

United Way plans Mega Raffle

The St. Joseph County United Way is making its last call for anyone interested in purchasing a ticket for its annual Mega Raffle fundraiser. Kelly Hostetler, executive director of the Centreville-based agency, said no more than 330 tickets are being sold at $100 each. The event will generate $17,500 in proceeds for the agency, while the balance will be returned …

Read More »

Mark My Words

It is hard to believe, but this past August marked my tenth anniversary of writing this column for the Three Rivers Commercial-News. One of my many dreams was to become a writer. I still have that dream, but my ideas for plays, a TV show and a book are still unwritten and sitting in the back of my mind. A …

Read More »

Court: Mom’s drug use during pregnancy not an abuse crime

The Michigan appeals court says the state’s child-abuse law doesn’t apply to unborn babies. The court threw out the conviction of a woman who used methamphetamine during her pregnancy. Melissa Jones’ son weighed less than 4 pounds despite being delivered at full term in Sturgis in St. Joseph County. In a 3-0 decision released Friday, the court says Michigan law …

Read More »

Case of more than 100 dogs at home results in cruelty pleas

A southwestern Michigan couple pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after authorities removed 108 dogs and several other animals from their rural home. Donald Smith and his wife Melissa Copen entered pleas Thursday in an agreement with prosecutors in Van Buren County. WWMT-TV reports they’re expected to serve probation and won’t be allowed to keep animals. Sheriff’s deputies and animal control …

Read More »