Andrew George of Three Rivers gives his “strong endorsement for Tom Lowry as our next Mayor of Three Rivers,” citing “competence and experience” as important attributes to consider when voting on Tuesday, November 7.

Editor’s note: Watershed Voice does not endorse any candidates for public office, and any views or opinions expressed in this letter are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

On this week’s episode of Keep Your Voice Down, Alek and Doug are joined by Washington-based hip hop producer and artist Blake Alford. The Anderson, Indiana native talks about his latest project Domino Effect, and the added effort that went into producing the album’s first single, Oxygen, which is set to drop on November 10.

The trio also discuss how Blake has evolved as an artist, why community and collaboration are vital to any creative process, and answer the question on everyone’s mind, “what kind of music does Alek listen to when playing video games?”

Watershed Voice columnist Amy Davidhizar writes about the recent tragedy that befell the Three Rivers community, and where we go from here.

Editor’s Note: This column makes reference to suicide and other issues related to mental health. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Text or call 988 to chat with someone now.

The fifth annual Sturgis BBQ Fest is slated for Saturday, September 30 in downtown Sturgis with 10 grill/pit masters scheduled to compete. Festivities will take place from noon to 7 p.m. along North and John Streets, and will include live music, several food vendors, kids activities, a beard contest, a corn hole tournament, and of course, live college football on the big screen.

Watershed Voice columnist Charles Thomas writes, “When I was a kid, the Dallas Cowboys were called America’s football team because they were winners. But today, I think the Detroit Lions are America’s football team because even though they are perennial losers, they just keep getting back up, again and again and again. Through grit and determination, the last are now first, and the Lions are finally having their moment in the spotlight. As Prince once sang, ‘the ride up front is better once you been in the back.'”

WSV columnist Zoe Thomas explains the many reasons why Barbie (2023) is important, including how it marks a long overdue cultural shift on how women are represented in media. “Not only are the women multi-dimensional, as has thankfully become more and more common in modern media, but they show femininity hand in hand with power, intelligence, and professionalism in a way that is almost never seen in film, let alone the real world.”

Alek and Doug attempt to recap the magic that was the third annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase, while Alek grapples with the authenticity of certain pop culture references and idioms used by characters in Ginny & Georgia. Would a teen in the 2020s reference Ghost (1990)? How often does Pinky & the Brain (1995) come up? Is Casper the Friendly Ghost on the typical Gen Z-er’s radar? We ponder.