Local Archives

Three Rivers auto workers begin strike, demand fair compensation for labor

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June 2, 2026

“With inflation, cost of living, you know, my members want a living wage, and my members want benefits that are affordable and that they have access to, and I think they have every right to have every one of those benefits,” UAW Local 2093 Vice President Joe Taylor told Watershed Voice. “They want job security, they want to retire with dignity, and they're some of the hardest working people that I know.” Members of UAW Local 2093 work at American Axle & Manufacturing, also known locally as Dauch Corporation, which supplies axles for General Motors pickup trucks. The strike follows months of contract negotiations between union representatives and the company. Earlier in May, workers voted 98% in favor of authorizing a strike if an agreement could not be reached before the contract deadline.

Entire Cass County prosecutor staff exits amid county compensation dispute

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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May 28, 2026

Former Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced Wednesday he is joining the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office after resigning from his elected position earlier this month. Fitz’s departure comes alongside the resignations of the office’s remaining assistant prosecutors, leaving all six attorney positions in the office vacant or in transition. Thursday morning, Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark A. Herman appointed attorney Sarah E. Scoggin as interim prosecuting attorney.

New SIA Community Impact Fund powers historic renovation in downtown Sturgis

By Watershed Voice

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Sturgis

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May 27, 2026

The renovation of 104–106 N. Nottawa Street will convert the historic structure into a fully restored, structurally sound building that will serve as the future home of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s offices. It will also create shared gathering space for nonprofit organizations, community leaders, businesses, and partners from across St. Joseph County. The project is the first major investment of the newly established SIA Community Impact Fund, a charitable fund held at the foundation dedicated to supporting community and economic development throughout the county.

Sturgis commission rejects calls to investigate and censure Mayor Frank Perez

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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May 14, 2026

Commissioner Aaron Miller introduced a resolution asking the commission to authorize an investigation by outside counsel. The proposal would have examined whether Mayor Frank Perez, Richard Bir, Cathi Abbs, and Linda Harrington potentially violated Michigan law, applicable case law, commission procedures and the city charter. Miller said an outside review would provide a path toward greater transparency. City Attorney T.J. Reed clarified that any investigative report would first be reviewed by the commission, which would then determine what information, if any, could be released publicly.

Three Rivers commission debates housing board appointment tied to ongoing litigation

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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May 7, 2026

The dispute began during board appointments listed near the end of the meeting agenda. Commissioner Torrey Brown questioned why Anthony Mayer — whose previous term on the housing board had expired — was not included among the recommended appointments. Brown later moved to appoint Mayer to a new term, arguing the board benefited from members with experience and institutional knowledge. Mayor Angel Johnston said the city had moved away from automatically reappointing board members in an effort to bring in new members and perspectives. Early in discussion of the motion, City Manager Joe Bippus said Mayer had ongoing legal disputes and multiple civil infractions involving Lockport Township as another reason why his reappointment got “pulled,” though he also stated the issues did not legally disqualify Mayer from serving on the board.

Hyperscale Data announces Dowagiac robotics plans as city says questions remain

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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April 30, 2026

Chief Executive Officer William B. Horne said the project is expected to create more than 500 jobs over the next three years, including robotics engineers, AI data specialists, infrastructure personnel and operations staff. The company did not specify how many of those positions would be based in Dowagiac or when hiring would begin. Some critics of data center expansion projects say promised employment benefits can be overstated, arguing that many permanent positions require specialized expertise while the most immediate local jobs are often construction-related and temporary.

Glen Oaks Foundation names 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

By Watershed Voice

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Culture

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April 30, 2026

Mick Kolassa, a blues musician, recently retired from a career in the pharmaceutical industry. He attended Glen Oaks on the GI Bill after serving in the U.S. Army. He later earned a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration from Eastern Washington University, followed by a doctorate in pharmaceutical marketing and economics from the University of Mississippi. In the early 1980s, while working at The Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Kolassa also taught classes at Glen Oaks. His career later took him across the country in roles within the pharmaceutical industry, including work in pricing and economic policy and as a vice president at a consulting firm.

Sturgis bond proposal overview: What’s being upgraded and who’s paying for it?

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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April 29, 2026

The funding would come through a bond proposal, which is the mechanism public school districts use to ask voters for authorization to borrow money for large capital investments. If approved, the district would work with a financial institution to sell bonds in multiple series, according to Superintendent Arthur Ebert. The first bond sale would be for a little more than $30 million in 2027, with the remaining amount issued in 2029. In practical terms, district officials say the proposal is not expected to create a higher school bond tax rate than what property owners are currently paying.

Sturgis Area Community Foundation transitions to county-wide foundation

By Watershed Voice

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Sturgis

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April 29, 2026

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation (SACF) has announced its transition to a county-wide foundation with a Board of Trustees serving all of St. Joseph County, marking a significant step in the organization’s continued growth and expanding role in regional philanthropy and community leadership. Over the past several years, SACF has grown from $34 million to $54 million in assets through community support and strategic partnerships. A major milestone in that growth was the 2025 merger with the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation, which broadened collaboration and strengthened SACF’s reach across the county.

Yellow tulips bloom in Three Rivers as Woman’s Club launches Mental Health Month event

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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April 28, 2026

The tulip display was inspired in part by the Yellow Tulip Project, a nationwide youth-led initiative founded to reduce stigma surrounding mental health struggles and suicide prevention. The yellow tulip has become a symbol of hope and open conversation. Club President Jan Michaels said the local organization wanted to take that message and make it visible in Three Rivers. “We hear so often that people need help and nobody is doing anything,” she said. “But there are services, and there are ways to help. Sometimes people just don’t know where to start.”

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