Watershed Voice

1 week ago | watershedvoice.com | Najifa Farhat

The Three Rivers City Commission will continue meeting at 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, despite opposition from Mayor Tom Lowry during Tuesday’s meeting — the first held at the new time. Lowry expressed concerns about the earlier schedule conflicting with St. Joseph County Commission meetings and limiting public and media access. “They [the media] have limited resources and time. Someone’s not going to get covered,” Lowry said.

1 week ago | watershedvoice.com | Najifa Farhat

Rep. Steve Carra, R-Sturgis, addressed several key issues during his monthly townhall meeting at the Christian Fellowship Church in Sturgis on Monday, including tax reform, federal tariffs, Michigan universities’ compliance with executive orders, and local infrastructure. Carra discussed federal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, describing them as a way to address unfair trade practices by making imported goods more expensive, thereby encouraging consumers to buy domestic products.

2 weeks ago | watershedvoice.com | Najifa Farhat

The city’s electric system suffered major damage during a severe storm on March 30, causing widespread outages and damaging key infrastructure, including the hydroline connected to the Sturgis Hydroelectric Dam. Electric Superintendent Chris McArthur told Sturgis city commissioners Wednesday that the hydro line — which supplies power from the dam on the St. Joseph River and serves about 600 customers — sustained extensive damage. In total, 32 electric poles were also damaged.

2 weeks ago | watershedvoice.com | Najifa Farhat

The Three Rivers City Commission is adjusting its meeting time on a trial basis, starting next week. Regular meetings, typically held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, will now begin an hour earlier at 5 p.m. The change was suggested by city staff, who noted that the previous schedule often required them to stay after their regular work hours. A majority of the commission agreed to test the earlier time.

2 weeks ago | watershedvoice.com | Najifa Farhat

More than 150 people gathered in downtown Three Rivers on Saturday as part of a locally organized “Hands Off” protest, joining a national movement to voice opposition to recent federal policies enacted under President Donald Trump’s administration. The Three Rivers demonstration was one of 1,400 “Hands Off” locations nationwide, according to organizers, with millions of people participating across the country.