St. Joseph County Archives

Three Rivers High School students to bring the world of “The Little Mermaid” to life onstage

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March 6, 2026

About 35 students are involved in the production this year, director Jennifer Miller said, filling roles both onstage and behind the scenes. Some students perform as actors, singers and dancers, while others manage technical elements such as sound, lighting and props. “What I love is how diverse their contributions are,” Miller wrote. “It’s a whole ecosystem of student talent, and everybody has found a place where they belong.”

Three Rivers City Commission approves $700K airport fuel system project, pauses board appointments

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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March 4, 2026

Commissioners had two board appointments on the agenda originally; however, they removed them before the meeting started due to an inconsistency between state and local laws. “In a recent review of our appointment process, I discovered inconsistencies between state law, charter information published on the city’s website, and certain board bylaws," Mayor Angel Johnston said. "As a result, some past appointments under both current and prior leadership may not fully align with our governing requirements. So [City Attorney] TJ Reed and I spent some time on the phone today and I’m recommending that we temporarily pause new appointments while staff conducts a comprehensive review."

Local meeting primer: Three Rivers City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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March 3, 2026

The Three Rivers City Commission will meet Tuesday, March 3 to consider a city-wide mowing contract, water meter replacements, winter salt funding, and adding Farrand Hall Diner to the downtown social district. As noted previously, Watershed Voice will be live-streaming the City Commission meeting on its Facebook page, and will upload the video to YouTube after. All Three Rivers City Commission meetings will be live-streamed and uploaded going forward.

Huss Project offering paid summer internship for WMU students in Three Rivers

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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February 26, 2026

The 10-week internship generally runs through the organization’s Back to School Celebration at the August Second Saturday Farmers Market. Interns are paid $17.50 per hour and are expected to work about 20 hours per week. Every other week, they attend professional development training at Western Michigan University as part of the Broncos LEAD program. For Co-founder Rob Vander-Giessen Reitsma, the internship is about more than seasonal help — it’s about formation. “We hope students learn about small-scale food production, community development in a small town, and how our work is rooted in the core values of our organization,” he said.

EV Chargers, Road Projects Highlight Sturgis Commission Meeting

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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February 26, 2026

Commissioners agreed to direct city staff to move forward with an electric vehicle charging station using leftover funds from a 2024 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant. The city completed its downtown improvements under budget, leaving approximately $151,207 in remaining funds. According to staff, electric vehicle charging infrastructure was the only remaining eligible use for the excess funds. The proposal includes installation of up to two dual-port Level 2 ChargePoint stations in Parking Lot 11 across from City Hall and the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Commissioners said the location is intended to encourage visitors to charge their vehicles while supporting downtown businesses within walking distance of the lot.

Carra poses with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes at campaign event, expresses support for group’s “less government” efforts

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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February 25, 2026

In 2022, Stewart Rhodes was convicted in federal court of seditious conspiracy related to the January 6 attack and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was later granted clemency by President Donald Trump in January 2025.

Watershed Voice to begin livestreaming Three Rivers City Commission meetings

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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February 24, 2026

Starting Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Watershed Voice will begin livestreaming regular business meetings of the Three Rivers City Commission on its Facebook page. Meetings will be available to watch live on Facebook and will be uploaded to Watershed Voice’s YouTube channel as soon as possible afterward, typically within a few hours.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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Sturgis

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February 24, 2026

The commission will revisit electric vehicle charging stations initially removed from the city’s Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP 1.0) grant project due to placement and budget concerns. The city received a $942,500 RAP grant in 2024 and completed downtown improvements under budget, leaving $151,207.62 in remaining funds. According to staff, electric vehicle charging infrastructure is the only remaining eligible use for the leftover funds. The proposal would install up to two dual-port Level 2 ChargePoint stations in Parking Lot 11 across from City Hall and the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. The project must be completed by June 30, 2026 and would require final compliance confirmation from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Keep Your Voice Down: To begin with, everything

By Alek Haak-Frost

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Keep Your Voice Down

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February 19, 2026

WMUK's Gordon Evans stopped by Keep Your Voice Down this week to discuss his career in public radio, the state of journalism, how it's changed, where it's headed, and what gives him hope about the industry he's dedicated his life to. Other topics include the quotability of Almost Famous, news anchors of yesteryear and the glaring absence of such figures in 2026, U.S. women's hockey, and whether Doug Sears Jr.'s dad actually skipped class to watch the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

Three Rivers Commission approves early voting update, demolition contract

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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February 18, 2026

Commissioners unanimously approved all agenda items, including an amendment to the county early voting site agreement, a box hangar lease transfer, and the demolition of 318 S. Main St.

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