Culture Archives

Watershed Voice: Year in Review

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News

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December 30, 2025

Before our three-week publishing pause, Watershed Voice invites our readers to take a look back at the past year in local news. For Watershed Voice, it was a year marked by change, as we transitioned from one staff writer — Najifa Farhat for the first half of the year — to another, Maxwell Knauer, for the second half of the year. No matter the author of our stories, we aimed to bring prompt, fact-based, independent reporting to Southwest Michigan. Here’s a look at some of our favorite, most impactful, and most-read stories of 2025.

Doug Sears, Jr.: Shining a Light on Audience Behavior

By Doug Sears, Jr.

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Opinion

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December 30, 2025

Watershed Voice's Doug Sears, Jr. writes about a recent experience at the movie theater that induced anger, reflection, and ultimately empathy. "My rage was palpable, as movie theater misbehavior is high on my list of modern pet peeves. But I'm trying really hard to stay in the 'live and let live' mentality, and I don't want to compound her distraction by calling it out. I’d hate to initiate a prolonged argument with a stubbornly rude individual and draw everyone in the theater, even those who don't notice the Beacon of Gondor from their seat, into my distraction."

Watershed Voice 2025: By the Numbers

By Maxwell Knauer & Deborah Haak-Frost

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News

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December 29, 2025

As the year comes to an end, Watershed Voice takes a look back at a year of keeping readers across Southwest Michigan informed. In 2025, Watershed Voice published 322 stories, averaging 27 articles per month. Over the course of the year, our reporting reached 137,762 total page views from 79,435 visitors.

Charles Thomas: Maybe it’s not too late

By Charles Thomas

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Opinion

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December 29, 2025

Watershed Voice columnist Charles Thomas writes, "Most of us have at least a few dreams that have been deferred. For you, it might not be a degree you dream of but starting a business or having another romantic relationship. You could have a dream about becoming a non-smoker or to find more meaningful work. Whatever your dream is, you may be thinking that it’s too late to achieve it. But consider this: what if you’re wrong?"

Maxwell Knauer: A staff writer’s plea to support local, independent news

By Maxwell Knauer

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Opinion

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December 22, 2025

Staff Writer Maxwell Knauer writes, "Watershed Voice is a not for profit, independent news outlet, and that means a lot to me. The fact that we exist as a free to act, independent entity working to provide rural Michiganders with the facts of what is going on in their community is not something I take lightly. In fact, it's why I work here in the first place. We are in charge of our reporting, not a giant media conglomerate. And by we, I mean you all because we are funded by our readers which is why we work for our readers."

Alek Haak-Frost: The Truth Giving Tree

By Alek Haak-Frost

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Poetry

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December 16, 2025

Executive Editor Alek Haak-Frost shares a poem he wrote titled "The Truth Giving Tree," in honor of Watershed Voice's 2025 NewsMatch campaign.

Klinger Lake photographer Lynne Kasey opens Farrand Hall’s first art show

By Maxwell Knauer

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Culture

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December 11, 2025

Farrand Hall is hosting its first art show on December 18, featuring photo prints from artist Lynne Kasey, a Klinger Lake resident. The show will be held at the Farrand Hall Market & Workshop in downtown Colon at 113 E. State St. Beginning at 6 p.m., attendees can view Kasey’s prints and explore the Farrand Hall Market & Workshop space. Kasey’s subject matter varies, with nature being one of her favorites. From photos of birds and macro images of water drops to interesting textures and vintage items, she finds artistry in a wide range of objects.

Three Rivers Community Players to present an otherworldly show celebrating the history of animation

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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December 9, 2025

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.

Holiday spirit endures through Christmas Around Town despite winter storms

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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December 2, 2025

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.

Haak-Frost: Don’t let this rural newsroom go the way of Pogs

By Alek Haak-Frost

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Culture

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November 18, 2025

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)."

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