Sturgis Archives

Wickey and Perez verbally spar as Sturgis City Commission turmoil continues

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October 15, 2026

Commissioner Justin Wickey called on Mayor Frank Perez to resign and, if he didn't, urged residents to vote for his opponent, Stoney Summey in this November's election. Perez responded by questioning Wickey's faith and role as a pastor, saying he was disappointed in Wickey "choosing to not practice the fundamental principle of forgiving one's neighbor." Perez is running for reelection as Sturgis District 4 commissioner against Summey. Sturgis commissioners elect the mayor from among themselves during their annual organizational meeting each November.

No Kings to host early voting event in Sturgis this weekend

By Maxwell Knauer

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Elections

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October 14, 2026

Community members are invited to gather at Memorial Park in Sturgis this weekend for a volunteer-organized event encouraging voter participation ahead of the November 3 election. The event, scheduled for Saturday, October 17, from noon to 1:30 p.m., is part of a nationwide effort by the No Kings movement to encourage early voting and increase voter turnout.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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October 13, 2026

The Sturgis City Commission will meet this Wednesday, October 14 at 6 p.m. for a regular business meeting. This will be commissioners' first meeting since the results of the internal investigation were released, and Monday’s statements from Commissioner Aaron Miller again calling for Mayor Frank Perez's resignation. While there are no agenda or discussion items related to the results, commissioners will likely discuss it during commissioner comments. For regular business, commissioners will consider a number of vehicle and project plans, a diesel fuel purchase, and set the meeting date for their first procedural meeting after the November election.

Aaron Miller calls for Frank Perez to resign, concede November election

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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October 12, 2026

Sturgis City Commissioner Aaron Miller says "there can be no coincidence" between the reported actions of Mayor Frank Perez, and the resignation of former City Manager Andrew Kuk. “I have watched a long history of commissioner mistreatment of Mr. Kuk that culminated in these events," Miller told Watershed Voice. "It has not just been this one event. His resignation was announced on the same night that the details of the secret meeting all spilled out before the entire commission, shortly after Mr. Kuk learned about the various details as well. There can be no coincidence."

Findings of investigation into Sturgis City Commission conduct leaves key questions unanswered

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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September 28, 2026

After a closed session during their September 23 meeting, the Sturgis City Commission unanimously voted to release the findings of the external investigation by Miller Johnson that looked into alleged wrongdoing by commissioners. The report details the events leading up to the public controversy, the investigator’s findings, and his legal conclusions regarding the commissioners’ conduct. This story presents the events chronologically, drawing on the investigator’s findings and the accounts of those interviewed.

Sturgis approves release of investigation findings

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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September 24, 2026

The unanimous decision to release the findings came after a nearly two and a half hour closed session during which commissioners discussed the findings of the investigation, and what would be released to the public. The decision to open an investigation came after weeks of Vice Mayor Jeff Mullins and City Commissioner Aaron Miller calling for Mayor Frank Perez to step down before attempting to remove and censure him. Mullins and Miller alleged that Perez and other commissioners contributed to an environment that led to former City Manager Andrew Kuk’s resignation. This is a developing story and Watershed Voice will provide updates as they become available. Staff Writer Maxwell Knauer is working on securing the investigation findings and will provide coverage once he has done so.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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September 23, 2026

The Sturgis City Commission will meet Wednesday, September 23, at 6 p.m. at City Hall for a regular business meeting. Commissioners will consider a $616,000 water clarifier replacement and contingency budget, more than $512,000 in street resurfacing work, a $116,800 change order for the electric building project, and a proposed increase in the contracted hourly rate for a Forestry Field Manager.

Sturgis Area Community Foundation announces new executive director

By Watershed Voice

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Sturgis

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September 22, 2026

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.

‘When someone is missing, every available resource matters’: Investigation into Brittany Shank’s disappearance continues in earnest

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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September 17, 2026

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.

Whitmer announces first batch of local road funding

By Maxwell Knauer

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State

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September 16, 2026

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.

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