Watershed Voice spoke with the new Dowagiac mayor about his first month in office, the goals he hopes to pursue, and his approach to transparency. Bakeman has served as mayor for just over a month, or three City Council meetings. He emphasized that significant policy changes take time.
The Sturgis City Commission will meet tonight in City Hall at 6 p.m. Electric Department Superintendent Chris McArthur will present the commission with the Sturgis Electric Center final design and the proposed purchase of a Hydro Line Three-Phase Transformer. A Christmas Tree pickup fundraiser and the sorting out of leases and sales of the city vehicle fleets will also be discussed.
Jonathan Current, business manager of IBEW Local 131, recently shared his perspective on the state and future of blue collar jobs in Southwest Michigan with Watershed Voice. We spoke with Current about unions and their role in today’s economy, the different states of certain trades such as electrical versus construction, and legislative efforts impacting trade and skilled workers in Southwest Michigan.
TRCP has been part of the Three Rivers arts landscape since 1973, often blending entertainment and education into its programing. The theater’s junior summer productions have introduced generations of young actors to the stage – including this show’s director who said those experiences were foundational to his creative life.
Cass County Board of Commissioners previously used the format to allow commissioners to meet in a more informal setting before taking formal action at a regular business meeting. In a session, no final votes are taken, commissioners can ask detailed questions about upcoming agenda items, sponsors of new business or department heads can provide additional context, and the board can workshop ideas or identify issues that may require more research.
Jared Smith, 49, faces two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child younger than 13 and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child younger than 13, according to Calhoun County court records.
The full proposal is available in an interactive format on the city’s website under the City Budgets section. City officials said the 2026 plan is built around community priorities outlined in the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Strategic Vision, now transitioning into Imagine Kalamazoo 2035, and reflects direction from the Kalamazoo City Commission’s March 2025 retreat.
Commissioner Carolyn McNary was unanimously appointed to the role in November but has since declined the position due to other obligations. The commission will try again to elect a mayor pro-tem at its December 16 meeting. McNary agreed to continue serving in the position until then.
Conditions forced organizers to reschedule the Holiday Light Parade to December 19 and cancel Sunday’s horse-drawn wagon rides, which may be offered at a later date.
Commissioners unanimously voted to direct staff to identify a more suitable date and potentially a larger venue for the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone 4301 Stadium Drive, the Asylum Lake property.
A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR
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