Alek’s childhood friend and standup comedian Rio Riojas stops by Keep Your Voice Down to discuss his recent foray into the world of standup comedy and his upcoming show in Kalamazoo (Wednesday, March 22 at Final Gravity Brewing Company, 8 p.m.). The Bay City native and East Lansing resident tells Doug and Alek about how he got started, how his act has evolved over the last year, his comedic style, how becoming a father has influenced the way he performs onstage, and why you shouldn’t bring your kids to see his act.
Author: Alek Haak-Frost
Three Rivers Public Library Director Bobbi Schoon returns to Keep Your Voice Down to discuss the library’s involvement with the Smithsonian’s Spark! Places of Innovation program. Spark! explores the unique combination of places, people, and circumstances that sparks innovation and invention in rural communities. The Three Rivers Library will be hosting its very own exhibit alongside a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that will make its way to the library this summer.
Alek, Doug, and Bobbi also discuss Women’s History Month, National Reading Month, and the myriad of ways citizens of Three Rivers can engage with the library.
Local author and hairstylist Brittni Huyck drops by Keep Your Voice Down to talk about her Iron City Heat Series, a trio of what Alek calls “spicy novels” and Doug, an adult, calls romantic novels. The Three Rivers native describes her writing process, what her family, friends, and clients think of her “dirty books,” and what their support has meant to her. Brittni also talks about how her life, the people in it, and her experience as a hairstylist have influenced her creative endeavors.
St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite was arrested in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 26 following a two-vehicle crash in Schoolcraft Township, according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office. Lillywhite is expected to be arraigned on charges of operating while intoxicated and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
Alek and Doug are joined by Portfolio Ink owner and tattoo artist Amber Ward, and Portfolio shop manager Jillian Gardner. The quartet discuss Amber and Jillian’s respective upbringings, the interesting routes each took to the world of tattoos and piercings, how their love of art and artistic expression influences most everything they do, and their involvement in and support of Three Rivers Pride.
In an effort to support the local recovery community and raise awareness of the options available to those looking to join a program, Watershed Voice will regularly publish a list of meetings available in Three Rivers, Sturgis, Coldwater, and surrounding areas.
Alek and Doug welcome poet, community activist, voice actor, author, and Watershed Voice columnist and board member Aundrea Sayrie. The long awaited interview with one of Watershed’s founding members doesn’t disappoint as Aundrea talks the origin story of Three Rivers Open Mic, her Black History Month series on WSV and why she decided to change the format this year, her ongoing health concerns and how they have changed her outlook on life, and an upcoming book she’s written about professional voice acting.
A 91-year-old Three Rivers man was pulled from a burning structure Sunday night in Fabius Township but was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department.
This week on Keep Your Voice Down, Doug and Alek are joined by Jackie Koney, chief operating officer of The Mill at Vicksburg, and friend of the show, Dan Moyle. The quartet discuss the progress of The Mill project and its 110-acre campus being developed for craft brewing, entertainment, tourism and more, right here in Southwest Michigan.
In lieu of Three Rivers’ annual Solidarity in Diversity event, which will not take place this year, *culture is not optional and the Huss Project (1008 8th St.) will host a screening of two episodes of “Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Movement” beginning at 4 p.m. Monday
Alek and Doug are joined by Watershed Voice’s new staff writer and longtime food columnist Beca Welty to discuss her new role, her journey from “Judge Welty’s kid” to super mom and super baker to community journalist, and her thoughts on the maddening, yet highly entertaining third season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime.
The past year for Watershed Voice was eventful to say the least, and while we plan to have more on that later with some Year in Review pieces to start 2023, our staff needs a break to rest, recharge, reflect, and refocus in anticipation for the year to come.
The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has issued a travel advisory for the county effective at 4 p.m. today, Thursday, December 22 until 1 p.m. Saturday, December 24 to coincide with the National Weather Service-issued blizzard warning.
The Three Rivers City Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting tonight at the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce building (1116 N. Main St.). Here’s a look at what’s on the docket.
City Attorney J. Patrick O’Malley will be honored at a reception prior to the Three Rivers City Commission meeting Tuesday, both of which will take place at the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce building (1116 N. Main St.)
Alek and Doug discuss the week that was in Three Rivers, the resurrection of the Three Rivers Commercial-News, the news landscape in St. Joseph County, and what the future may hold for Watershed Voice as a daily news source in this new era of community journalism.
The paper announced on its Facebook page Sunday that it would resume operations after a Southwest Michigan newspaper company, and a man named Mike Wilcox, swooped in at the last minute to save it. Shortly after the news was delivered, the original post was taken down, reportedly because the report was premature, and the deal had yet to be finalized. However, staff did receive confirmation on Monday that the deal is done.
A 38-year-old Centreville man is facing multiple charges after he led police on a chase Friday that ended with the suspect nude and in handcuffs.