Three Rivers Archives

Glen Oaks Foundation names 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

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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.

Longtime court administrator Tabitha Wedge to receive Liberty Bell Award

By Watershed Voice

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News

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April 29, 2026

Wedge has served the St. Joseph County courts for nearly 40 years. She began her tenure with the 3B District Court in September 1987 while still a senior at Centreville High School. Over the course of her career, she has served in multiple roles before being appointed Court Administrator/Magistrate in July 2006.

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.”

From Renaissance motets to Pinocchio, Brandenburg Concert celebrates 36 seasons

By Maxwell Knauer

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Culture

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April 28, 2026

Founded by Kurt Brandenburg and Verna Troyer, the ensemble started with a focus on early sacred and secular choral music from the Renaissance era. Over time, the group expanded its repertoire to include works from nearly every musical period. “We began to feature music from basically all periods, literally from medieval to modern,” Brandenburg told Watershed Voice. That wide-ranging history is central to this year’s program. Brandenburg Concert will present “Our Story” at 4 p.m. this Sunday, May 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Three Rivers.

Three Rivers gives tentative support to second farmers market, pending next steps

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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April 22, 2026

DDA board members spoke during the meeting, admitting they were underprepared and moved too quickly, putting the city in a position to deny the request. However, they said they plan to develop a more thorough plan to present to city staff. “I do think that we did get a little ahead of ourselves,” DDA board member Jason Ballew said, explaining that the DDA will come back with a full work plan outlining how the market would function. Ballew also asked the commission not to make any formal decisions Tuesday night.

Local meeting primer: Three Rivers City Commission

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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April 21, 2026

The Three Rivers City Commission will meet Tuesday, April 21, at 6 p.m. in City Hall for a regular business meeting. Commissioners will have the opportunity to give input on a proposed second farmers market in Three Rivers that city staff rejected, consider amendments to city code removing inflammatory language characterizing massage therapists as sex workers and labeling homosexual behavior as “deviant,” and review a series of budget amendments reflecting differences between projected and actual revenues and expenditures. Watershed Voice livestreams all Three Rivers City Commission meetings on its Facebook page and uploads them to YouTube after.

Debate grows over second farmers market proposal in Three Rivers

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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April 17, 2026

What began as a request to use park space has since developed into a broader public debate over downtown priorities, city process, and whether Three Rivers can support two farmers markets at once. Three Rivers has an established weekly market operated by the Huss Project. Supporters of the proposed Scidmore Park market say a second event could create more activity downtown, and offer families another community gathering space. Critics, including some existing vendors, say the city may not have enough customers or vendors to sustain both long term.

What’s on the May 5 ballot in Southwest Michigan? Here’s what voters need to know

By Maxwell Knauer

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Local

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April 15, 2026

May election season is upon us, and while the ballots may seem light, their local impact is anything but. The Tuesday, May 5 special election in Michigan features relatively few races in most communities, with many ballots focused on school bond proposals, millage renewals and local questions rather than candidate contests. Still, these lower-turnout elections often decide issues that hit closest to home — from school building upgrades to tax levies and city charter changes.

Three Rivers Police seek public’s help in hit-and-run involving child on scooter

By Watershed Voice

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Three Rivers

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April 14, 2026

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Dibble at sdibble@threeriversmi.org or 269-278-1235. Tips may also be submitted to: St. Joseph County Central Dispatch: 269-467-4195 Three Rivers Police Department: 269-278-1235 Silent Observer: 616-774-2345

Three Rivers Commission approves nearly $3 million in road and infrastructure projects

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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April 8, 2026

The most contentious agenda item Tuesday was the Department of Public Services parking lot replacement project, where Commissioner Lucas Allen sharply questioned the city’s decision not to select the lowest bidder. The exchange underscored broader tensions over cost, contractor selection, and the quality of infrastructure work across the city. During discussion, Director of Public Services Amy Roth said the city plans to present a six-year road repair plan as part of the FY 2027 budget process, with initial discussion scheduled for May 12.

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