Sturgis Archives

Sturgis voters to decide on school bond proposal in May

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February 10, 2026

According to district materials, the proposal would fund improvements at multiple schools buildings, including Sturgis High School, elementary schools, the middle school, and support facilities. Projects include roof replacements, restroom renovations, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades, secure entry vestibules, boiler replacements, classroom and library renovations, and site improvements such as sidewalks, parking and drainage. The proposal also includes athletic and extracurricular upgrades, such as new synthetic turf for football, baseball, and softball fields; a new running track and field event areas; updated stadium lighting and seating, and expanded athletic restroom facilities.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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News

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February 10, 2026

The Sturgis City Commission will meet this Wednesday, February 11, at 6 p.m. at Sturgis City Hall. Commissioners will revisit two proposed ordinance changes from their last meeting—burning regulations and promotional display rules—and consider several new business items, including a Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) project plan related to lead service line replacement, hiring a construction manager for the Sturgis Electric Center project, and the decertification of a portion of S. Park Street.

Journalists and advocates gather in Kalamazoo to discuss affordable housing

By Maxwell Knauer

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Kalamazoo

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February 6, 2026

Panelists included journalists who regularly cover housing and community issues — Watershed Voice editor-in-chief and founder Alek Haak-Frost, Brad Devereaux of MLive, Jordyn Hermani of Bridge Michigan, and freelance journalist Al Jones, project editor for On the Ground Kalamazoo — as well as housing advocates Gwendolyn Hooker of Kalamazoo-based Hope Through Navigation, Shanay Settles of the Calhoun County Health Department, and Patsy Moore of Mount Zion Baptist Church and Legacy Senior Living.

Michigan mental health service shift blocked by Court of Claims

By Maxwell Knauer

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News

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February 3, 2026

The dispute began last fall, when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a request that would have consolidated Michigan’s 10 Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs) regions—funded primarily through Medicaid behavioral health dollars—into three “super-regions.” Regional PIHPs later learned that they, as the current providers, were excluded from bidding because they are statutorily restricted to operating within their designated regions. The PIHPs filed a lawsuit, arguing the RFP violated Michigan law and threatened locally administered mental health care that has existed since the 1990s.

Sturgis City Commission advances new burning rules, directs next steps on Doyle Center roof

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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January 29, 2026

The most contentious item on the agenda was the Burning Ordinance First Reading, a proposed update to the city’s Fire Prevention and Protection chapter that, according to the city manager’s report, has not been revised since 1969.

Watershed Voice’s warming shelter resource list

By Maxwell Knauer

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News

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January 28, 2026

As winter continues and temperatures stay unbearably cold, Watershed Voice has compiled a list of warming centers in St. Joseph and Cass counties. If you know of any additional resources, please share them with maxwell@watershedvoice.com so they can be added to this list.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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January 27, 2026

A first reading of proposed updates to the city’s burning ordinance is also on the agenda. The ordinance, which falls under Fire Prevention and Protection in the city code, has not been comprehensively revised since 1969, according to the city manager’s report.

Watershed Voice: Year in Review

By Maxwell Knauer

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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.

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.

Watershed Voice holiday resource guide

By Maxwell Knauer

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Local

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December 22, 2025

Last week Kalamazoo, Sturgis, and Three Rivers had city commission meetings. In all three meetings, independent of each other, homelessness and ways the city can address it was discussed. As the holidays approach and cold weather continues, Watershed Voice compiled a list of all the resources available for those who need it most in St. Joseph, Cass, and Kalamazoo counties. This guide lists shelter, warming, food and crisis resources available during the holiday period. Availability and capacity can change quickly, especially during extreme weather.

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