The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners discussed the possibility of returning to in-person meetings after Tuesday’s virtual meeting was interrupted by internet trolls in a practice called “Zoombombing” or “Zoom raiding.” Unidentified persons briefly hurled racist and homophobic epithets at commissioners and those in attendance before Chairperson Dennis Allen temporarily stopped the meeting.

In a reflection of statewide pressure to reopen winter athletic programs and other school activities, the Three Rivers Board of Education (BOE) adopted a resolution in support of lifting statewide restrictions that are currently in place. The resolution asks Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to approve restarting school winter athletic programs. BOE President Erin Nowak clarified that the resolution would not actually reopen Three Rivers Community Schools (TRCS) sports programs and other extracurricular activities, but instead would ask the state to lift restrictions.

As of 10:59 p.m. Tuesday night, with just under 72 percent of St. Joseph County precincts reporting, Republican Steve Carra led Democrat Amy East for the seat of 59th District Representative in the Michigan Legislature by a margin of approximately two to one. At that time, Carra carried 12,200 votes in the county to East’s 6,775. He also held a significant lead in Cass County. Speaking from St. Joseph County Republican Party Headquarters in Three Rivers around 11 p.m., Carra said his campaign was declaring victory. Results are also in for several other contested, local races.

The River Country Sports Commission (RCSC) received two more donations this week toward projects at the Armstrong Youth Sports Complex (AYSC) in Three Rivers. They included $9,000 worth of contributions from Doug and Kathy Arney and Bill and Betsy Rhoda, which will be used in the construction of a pavilion at the complex. Horizon Bank also donated $1,000 to the AYSC’s general fund.

Matthew Mosher believes it is important for elected officials to be responsive and accountable to all of their constituents, no matter who those constituents are. At a campaign meet and greet event at Meyer Broadway County Park this past Sunday, Mosher discussed with Watershed Voice the measures he would take to bring about that responsiveness and accountability, as well as what, exactly, those things mean to him.

In Episode 8 of Keep Your Voice Down, Doug and Alek are joined by fellow Watershed Voice Podcaster Michael “Hogey” Hogoboom to discuss last week’s primary election results, what November’s ballot will look like, and of course, Taylor Swift’s new album, which Hogey has plenty of opinions about. The trio also discusses the NBA and NHL bubbles, the Three Rivers DDA, Three Rivers Community Schools’ Board of Education and Charles Thomas’ latest piece on what he misses most about Three Rivers.

Watershed Voice sent out questionnaires to over 75 candidates running for elected positions in St. Joseph County and the surrounding area. In the days leading up to the Michigan Primary on August 4, Watershed will publish the questionnaires it received back as well as an election preview. Jared Hoffmaster, a Republican candidate for First District county commissioner, filled out WSV’s questionnaire ahead of Tuesday’s primary.