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Three Rivers Water Festival returns Thursday with parade kicking off three days of events

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Three Rivers
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June 18, 2026

The festival begins later Thursday evening with the annual Water Festival Parade at 7 p.m., marking the official start of the long-running community tradition. Carnival rides and food vendors will be available throughout the weekend as festival activities continue through Saturday. Residents can expect a packed schedule of events over the three-day celebration, with attractions ranging from arts and crafts vendors to races, live entertainment, and a fireworks finale.

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Three Rivers Commissioners approve amphitheater expansion to Downtown Social District
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Three Rivers
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June 17, 2026

After a lengthy discussion about whether to place restrictions on when residents could utilize the expanded district, commissioners approved an amended motion limiting the expansion to only when events are being held at the amphitheater. More than an hour into the meeting, worsening weather prompted Mayor Angel Johnston to temporarily adjourn proceedings and direct attendees to shelter in the City Hall basement as a precaution. During the adjournment, Johnston briefly returned home to retrieve her dog before rejoining attendees in the basement. After the storm passed, commissioners returned upstairs and resumed the meeting.

Three Rivers approves media access policy, begins exploring city-run meeting livestreams
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Three Rivers
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June 17, 2026

During public comment, Watershed Voice Staff Writer Maxwell Knauer and Three Rivers Commercial-News reporter Robert Tomlinson both spoke in favor of the city exploring what it would take to begin livestreaming meetings directly. Knauer thanked commissioners for approving the media access policy but urged them to take the additional step of exploring what city-operated livestreaming would require. “I think that is the simplest step to showing your constituents that you care about transparency at all,” Knauer said.

Sturgis Hospital announces closure, ending local healthcare services this week
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Sturgis
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June 17, 2026

Sturgis Hospital announced Tuesday it will cease operations later this week, closing after years of financial challenges that officials say left the organization unable to continue operating. According to a statement released June 16, the hospital will stop seeing patients at noon on Friday, June 19. The closure will affect all hospital departments and services, including the emergency department, surgery services, laboratory services, medical imaging, outpatient clinics, physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation.

Sturgis City Commission restores decorum after several contentious meetings
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Sturgis
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June 11, 2026

After several meetings dominated by talk of investigations, censure attempts, and disputes surrounding Mayor Frank Perez and outgoing City Manager Andrew Kuk, the commission spent most of Wednesday's meeting focused on routine city business. Vice Mayor Jeff Mullins requested an update during commissioner comments on allegations of embezzlement raised by a former Doyle Community Center employee at a recent meeting. City Attorney T.J. Reed said the investigation remains ongoing and is being handled by local law enforcement. Once the investigation is complete, Reed said the findings will be forwarded to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office for review. No additional details about the investigation were provided.

Pride celebration continues in Three Rivers with June drag show
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Culture
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June 11, 2026

"Although we didn't have the board capacity to put on a festival this year, we wanted to give Three Rivers some sort of celebration," Three Rivers Pride Secretary Alexis Jacobs wrote in a statement to Watershed Voice. "So we organized this event to honor queer folks and love, show everyone that we are still here, and raise some money towards the cause." According to Jacobs, all tips collected during the event will be donated to Three Rivers Pride to support future initiatives. She added that the Kittens will close the evening with a “big group number” to cap off the night of celebration.

Local theater celebrating Pride Month with anniversary screening of Moonlight
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Culture
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June 10, 2026

On the film's 10th anniversary, organizers hope audiences recognize its significance. Monoform member Gabe Ybarra described the film not only as an important work of queer cinema, but as a film that belongs within the broader canon of American cinema. “Now more than ever it’s important that theaters of all kinds continue to screen films like Moonlight because representation does matter. It matters on the surface level that queer and non-white people deserve a space in the industry, but on a deeper level we need these kinds of movies because they build empathy. In the same way that watching international cinema can broaden your understanding of the world and introduce you to a culture or entirely different way that people exist, movies like Moonlight can open your eyes to how different existence can be even for the people standing right next to you.”

It’s movie night at the Three Rivers Amphitheater
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Three Rivers
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June 10, 2026

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority will kick off this year's series on Thursday, June 18, with a screening of the 1988 comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The movie is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. at the Three Rivers Amphitheater on Joshua Drive.

Michigan senator introduces statewide data center moratorium package
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State
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June 9, 2026

Republican State Senator Jim Runestad has introduced a package of three bills that would temporarily halt new data center development across Michigan until April 1, 2027. The trio of bills—Senate Bills 1018, 1019, and 1020—each target a different aspect of data center development, an issue that has become increasingly contentious in communities across the state. 

New Cass County interim prosecutor addresses commissioners for first time
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News
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June 9, 2026

Speaking during the June 4 Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting, attorney Sarah Scoggin thanked county employees, court officials, law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's office staff and community members for helping her transition into the role. “It is a little overwhelming to be one person that is taking over what six people usually do. That is a lot, but the first week is going pretty well,” Scoggin said. “I do want to say that I really appreciate everybody in the county who has been just so supportive. I’ve had so many people offer just whatever they can.” Scoggin was appointed interim prosecuting attorney May 28 by Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark A. Herman following the resignation of former Prosecutor Victor Fitz, and the departure of the office's assistant prosecutors.

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