Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman appointed Sarah Scoggin to the position on an interim basis on May 28 following the resignation of former Prosecutor Victor Fitz. Scoggin has now agreed to serve through the end of the term, which ends in 2028, and may choose to seek election to a subsequent term.
The Sturgis Area Community Foundation (SACF) Board of Trustees has appointed Ashley Magnus as its next Executive Director. An accomplished nonprofit executive with extensive experience in philanthropy, fundraising, strategic planning, and community engagement, Magnus brings a proven track record of organizational growth and community impact to the Foundation.
Earlier this week, investigators began digging at a property in Leonidas Township after they received information that there could be evidence at the property related to the disappearance of Brittany Shank.
Cass Swim began with Diamond Lake residents Jeanne Jourdan and her late husband, Tom Swartz, who believed local children should have access to swimming and water-safety instruction. Working with the YMCA and other community partners, their idea grew into a program that has become a longstanding tradition for Cassopolis students. Jourdan remains a passionate advocate for Cass Swim, hosting several days of instruction each year in her own backyard pool. Close friends Tom and Jill Vihtelic joined the effort six years ago and have since become community leaders for the program, helping spearhead fundraising and volunteer efforts alongside Jourdan.
SAFEbuilt came up repeatedly throughout the meeting, with commissioners raising their own and residents’ complaints about the company and SAFEbuilt representatives responding. The discussion began during public comment when Glenn Lindsay, SAFEbuilt’s Midwest director of operations, addressed what he said were social media posts regarding the amount the city pays SAFEbuilt. Lindsay sought to explain the expenditures and argued that revenue from permits and rental inspections offsets much of the cost of SAFEbuilt’s services.
The first batch of local funding is being disbursed to cities and counties across Michigan as part of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Neighborhood Roads Fund (NRF), which aims to rebuild state and local roads and bridges. Locally, residents in Three Rivers and Sturgis have complained to local officials about the condition of their roads, asking for plans to fix them. Those officials have said some of the most problematic roads are owned and maintained by the state, meaning responsibility for those repairs rests with the state.
After two split votes, Mayor Patrick Bakeman voted for David Fair as the successor to former Councilmember Tharan Suvarna, who resigned during their last meeting after accepting a job near his parents outside of Dowagiac. Fair will serve the remainder of Suvarna’s four-year term. Suvarna was elected in November 2025.
The Three Rivers City Commission will meet this Tuesday, September 15 at 6 p.m. in city hall. Commissioners will work through a long agenda containing four public hearings and seven new business items. Commissioners will consider the next steps for a property transfer to Habitat for Humanity, the 2027 Parks and Recreation department plan — which includes a splash pad, a second attempt at the sale of 810 S. Constantine St., and an annual review of city commission and administration guidelines.
Commissioners held a public hearing and unanimously approved a resolution supporting an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate (IFEC) for Summit Polymers, a plastic injection molding company for the automotive industry. The certificate would reduce the tax liability on the company’s new addition by approximately 50%. The IFEC is expected to save Summit Polymers approximately $110,000 annually in taxes. The exemption was approved for 12 years.
This guide is intended to help voters understand how to register, choose a voting method, and make a voting plan ahead of the November 3 election. Watershed Voice will publish additional election coverage closer to Election Day detailing the candidates, races, and ballot proposals voters will see locally and statewide. Since ballots differ depending on where a voter lives, readers can view their sample ballot through the Michigan Voter Information Center once it is available.
A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR
Become a monthly donor today
A monthly donation of $5 or more can make a difference.
