Alek Haak-Frost: The Truth Giving Tree
Executive Editor Alek Haak-Frost shares a poem he wrote titled "The Truth Giving Tree," in honor of Watershed Voice's 2025 NewsMatch campaign.
Alek's Latest Articles
Haak-Frost: Don’t let this rural newsroom go the way of Pogs
Watershed Voice Executive Editor Alek Haak-Frost writes, "I, for one, would love to see Pogs make a comeback. My stepmother took my Pogs away one day as punishment for something lost to the sands of time, and I never saw them again. Like, ever. "So what does any of this have to do with rural newsrooms? Watershed Voice, much like my beloved Pogs, could be taken away, never to be seen or heard from again. Not because my stepmom forgot to give it back but because support for local journalism has dwindled, and rural newsrooms are almost as endangered as Blockbuster Video or Hot 'n Now (good looking out, Sturgis)."
A news magazine for the people, powered by the people
Watershed Voice has no owners, is free to all, and we intend to keep it that way. Our biggest fundraiser of the year, NewsMatch, is officially underway and we need your support to continue this valuable work.
Haak-Frost: Remembering the radical kindness of my heroes
Executive Editor Alek Haak-Frost reflects on the lives and legacies of three childhood heroes who, each in their own way, practiced radical kindness.
Sturgis business apologizes after Journal ad calling diversity ‘the Trojan horse of terrorism’ draws backlash
Bowersox Floor Center said the ad was “misinterpreted” and not meant as racist after readers condemned it on social media.
‘Love thy neighbor’: Centreville ‘No Kings’ protest draws 400
Co-organizer Dan Moyle said the challenge now is to translate a two-hour rally into sustained civic habits such as checking in on neighbors, showing up at meetings, supporting local service organizations, and making time for conversations across differences. “I can’t fix Washington, D.C., but I can help in my community,” he said. “Love thy neighbor — it’s pretty simple.”
GT Independence adds H.I.G. Capital as investment partner
GT Independence CEO John Carmichael will continue to lead the Sturgis-based financial management service company, and the Carmichael family will remain "a significant stakeholder."
Keep Your Voice Down: Maxwell Knauer
Watershed Voice Staff Writer Maxwell Knauer joins Keep Your Voice Down hosts Doug Sears Jr. and Alek Haak-Frost for what might just be the most chaotic conversation in KYVD history.
Watershed Voice’s Summer Fundraising Drive starts today
Donate today or any time in the next two weeks (August 4 through August 18) to help us reach our summer fundraising goal of $5,000. Whether it's a one-time donation or a monthly contribution, your support can make a difference.
Keep Your Voice Down: Abdul El-Sayed
The former Rhodes Scholar and Michigan gubernatorial candidate fields questions about civil liberties, affordable housing, Medicare for All, and automation's impact on the economy. Abdul El-Sayed is running for Michigan's soon-to-be open U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Gary Peters, who is not seeking reelection in 2026.
