News

An alert homeowner thwarted a would-be car thief this week in Branch County’s Bethel Township. Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched at 6:30 a.m. Monday to the 600 block of Block Road. The potential victim told authorities the suspect noticed a man exit a vehicle, possibly a Jeep, and approach the homeowner’s car. Troopers said the homeowner ran the suspect …

A Centreville man was arrested last week after leading deputies on a pursuit across St. Joseph County. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies attempted to stop the vehicle after leaving the scene of a property-damage incident Friday at an unspecified time in the village of Centreville. The pursuit continued east on M-86, as the suspect’s vehicle nearly struck other cars on …

A newspaper with a presence of more than 100 years in St. Joseph County was given a reprieve. The Three Rivers Commercial-News will continue operations under the guidance of a businessman who owns two other publications in Michigan. Mike Wilcox agreed to purchase the newspaper from Dirk Milliman and keep it in business as a weekly publication. The newspaper will …

Two house fires within 12 hours of one another in Sturgis over the weekend are under investigation by the Sturgis Department of Public Safety’s fire marshal. Sturgis public safety officials reported that just before midnight Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in the 200 block of Grove Street. Police units reaching the scene reported smoke …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of two, 1000-foot rolls of Romex wire from a location in Nottawa Township. Troopers said the incident occurred between Dec. 2 and Dec. 5 in the 61000 block of Nottawa Road. The rolls of wire were taken from a residential construction site, authorities said.

“TR Goes Tropical” has been chosen as the theme of the 2023 Three Rivers Water Festival. Barb Penny, Three Rivers Water Festival Committee member, said establishing a theme was an early task in the process of organizing the 66th community festival. Penny said committee members felt the theme is familiar to most, which would allow the participants in the parade …

Three Rivers municipal officials recently approved a grant application that would expand the pickleball court at Armstrong Park. During their city commission meeting last week, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners put their support behind a grant application that could net nearly $300,000 through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The grant would require the city to put up $90,000. Those …

The village of Constantine will soon be the owner of a property on East Third Street. During a recent council meeting, village manager Mark Honeysett said county treasurer Kathy Humphreys indicated the village would be given ownership of a parcel at 160 E. Third St. Humphreys indicated the county had foreclosed on the property due to non-payment of taxes. Eventually, …

Nottawa Gas broke ground last week in advance of a new location in Centreville. Wednesday’s ceremonial ground breaking will lead to construction of a 9,000-square-foot building on Elanor Drive in the village’s industrial park. Company officials said they expect the new location to open by late summer 2023.

The body of an Indiana man missing since late November was found last week in Sturgis Township. State police troopers said the body of Garvin Roberson, 70, was found Friday in an area near Fawn River and White School roads. Roberson, the brother of Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson, was reported missing Nov. 28. Cause of death has not been determined …