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From rural midwest poetry to a French residency, how Aubrey Barnes continues to share his uncompromising voice
Barnes, who has previously performed at the Watershed Voice Artist Showcase in Three Rivers and had several works published by the news and culture magazine, was recently awarded a writing residency at Chateau Orquevaux in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France. He described the experience as life-changing.
“The artists — writers, painters and other creatives — would gather. We walked together, explored the grounds, shared our art, cried, laughed and built deep bonds quickly. It was transformative.”
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Watershed Voice is an independent, nonprofit civic news magazine based in Three Rivers, Michigan. We seek to highlight solutions to your pressing concerns in an effort to make our community a better place.
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Keep Your Voice Down: To begin with, everything
WMUK’s Gordon Evans stopped by Keep Your Voice Down this week to discuss his career in public radio, the state of journalism, how it’s changed, where it’s headed, and what gives him hope about the industry he’s dedicated his life to. Other topics include the quotability of Almost Famous, news anchors of yesteryear and the glaring absence of such figures in 2026, U.S. women’s hockey, and whether Doug Sears Jr.’s dad actually skipped class to watch the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
Drew Duncan says policy saved his life — now he’s shaping it
“My life was saved because of the Affordable Care Act,” Kalamazoo City Commissioner and Vice Mayor Drew Duncan said. “Without it, I would not have received care.”
Now 36, Duncan sees that period — when he was diagnosed in late 2009 and underwent treatment through 2011 — as foundational. It was the moment policy stopped being abstract.
“I have a story that is like many people — but maybe not a story people would expect,” he said. “I try to enter the room with a listening posture. I see urgency around the issues that are plaguing my constituents.”
Three Rivers Commission approves early voting update, demolition contract
Commissioners unanimously approved all agenda items, including an amendment to the county early voting site agreement, a box hangar lease transfer, and the demolition of 318 S. Main St.
Three Rivers Promise surpasses $1 million in fundraising campaign
Three Rivers Promise has raised more than $1 million toward its goal of creating a long-term scholarship endowment for graduates of Three Rivers High School.
The organization is in the initial phase of a community fundraising campaign aimed at building a self-sustaining fund to support tuition assistance for eligible graduates.
Kalamazoo City Commission tables Safe Routes to School contract amid public pushback
Commissioners voted unanimously to table the item and revisit it at a future meeting. City staff said they plan to prepare additional information, including visuals, and hold a meeting to gather resident feedback before returning to the commission.
“If we postpone it to one more meeting, it’s not going to have a delay on receiving the funds,” Commissioner Jae Slaby said. “It will not jeopardize these funds. It will not jeopardize the contract. So why not just have the due diligence done and send the message to the community that we are hearing their concerns?”
Local meeting primer: Three Rivers City Commission
The Three Rivers City Commission will meet on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. in City Hall to consider the demolition of 318 South Main St., finalize the transfer of a box hangar lease at the city airport, and amend its early voting site agreement with St. Joseph County.
