Local News Archives

Turns out,there were some inflated arrest numbers following the disturbance on North Beach in South Haven prior to the “Light up the Lake” fireworks on July 3. South Haven police tell us there were 13 arrests, not the 50 that had been widely reported. None of the arrests were people from South Haven, as three were from Kalamazoo, three came from Battle Creek, two were in town from suburban Detroit, another two arrested are from Otsego, and one was from suburban Indianapolis. One of the Kalamazoo suspects is charged with inciting a riot.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Democrats are proposing a constitutional amendment to expand early voting that’s unlikely to gain support in the Republican-controlled legislature. The measure announced Wednesday calls for “no-reason” absentee voting and in-person early voting starting 15 days before an election. Another provision would provide for automatic voter registration for people issued a driver’s license or state ID card.
Democratic Representatives Gretchen Driskell, of Saline, and Jon Hoadley, of Kalamazoo, call their proposal a “voter bill of rights.” They say voting access must be improved especially after Republicans eliminated straight-party voting in January. A spokesman for House Speaker Kevin Cotter says the resolution has been referred to committee. The constitutional amendment would need support from two-thirds of the House
and Senate by September 9 to qualify for a statewide vote in November.. ...Read Full Story

The Pokagon Fund is highlighting its land conservation efforts around southwest Michigan. It says since it awarded a $900,000 grant to Chikaming Open Lands in 2011, the organization has been able to preserve 242 acres in southern Berrien County. Chikaming Open Land’s Bob Tatina says that’s among roughly 1,600 acres the group has preserved since its inception. It buys property that would otherwise be developed, and preserves it for educational and recreation purposes.. ...Read Full Story

A forum with local political candidates is planned for this week. It’s being organized by the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, and will be held at the Super 8 Conference Center on Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville. On hand will be Democratic congressional candidate Paul Clements, as well as a representative of Congressman Fred Upton, four candidates for the state House in the 79th District, two candidates for Berrien County Drain Commissioner, and some candidates for county commission. The forum will be Friday at noon. Organizers say everyone’s welcome to come out and bring some questions for those running.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Deputy Sheriff James Atterberry Jr. has been released from the hospital. Atterberry was shot on Monday when jail inmate Larry Gordon grabbed his gun while being led out of a courtroom. Two court security officers, Joe Zangaro and Ron Kienzle, were killed in the incident, while Atterberry was taken to Lakeland Hospital for treatment. A civilian, Kenya Eliis, was also shot and taken to the hospital. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says Atterberry is now recovering at home, and his family asks for privacy. Meanwhile, the sheriff’s department is planning a press conference for Thursday morning to give an update on its investigation into Monday’s courthouse shootings.. ...Read Full Story

The US Senate has advanced legislation designed to fight the abuse of opioid prescriptions. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which has been hailed by Congressman Fred Upton, contains provisions to improve treatment for overdoses, give law enforcement more training, helping veterans with addiction, and strengthen prescription tracking systems.. ...Read Full Story

Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller says he’s reflecting on courtroom protocols after two bailiffs were shot dead at the Berrien County Courthouse on Monday. He says the county’s use of video for court appearances makes officers safer because it doesn’t subject them to vulnerabilities outside of the controlled atmosphere of jail.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office has released more details about the charges that had been faced by courthouse shooter Larry Gordon. It says the 44-year-old Coloma man was arrested on April 20 when police went to his home on Tannery Road to pick him up for a misdemeanor domestic violence warrant. Upon arrival, officers noticed a light on in a shed on the property and found Gordon inside. He barricaded himself in, and then escaped through a back entrance. Gordon was picked up not long after in a different area of the neighborhood, but once police got into the shed, they learned he’d been holding a 17-year-old girl there for about two weeks against her will. Prosecutors say he’d been giving her meth in exchange for sex, and also forced sex on her. Gordon was charged with a variety of offenses which included first degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, production of child sexually abusive material, and strangulation. He’d been looking at life in prison. Gordon shot and killed two Berrien County court security officers on Monday after grabbing the gun of a sheriff’s deputy. He was later shot and killed by police.. ...Read Full Story

The victims of Monday’s shooting at the Berrien County Courthouse continue to be remembered. WSJM’s Michael Arney has more.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police Trooper Steve Barker says he is thankful to have worked with both Ron Kienzle and Joe Zangaro in his law enforcement career, which began 18 years ago with the Benton Township Police Department. Barker spoke at a candlelight vigil in downtown St. Joseph last night to remember the two court bailiffs who were killed on Monday.. ...Read Full Story

Unit 2 of the Cook Nuclear Plant is back in service. It had been shut down July 6 due to a rupture in a steam expansion joint bellows which damaged the Turbine Building exterior wall. Indiana Michigan Power says the failure looks to have been caused by vibration-induced metal fatigue. Repairs made include improvements to the expansion joint to ensure it’s reliable until taken off line this fall for a refueling outage. At that point, more comprehensive design change improvements will be made. Unit 2 went back into service at 6 p.m. Tuesday.. ...Read Full Story

Southwest Michigan will say goodbye to Joe Zangaro on Friday. The head of courthouse security for Berrien County was among two court officers shot and killed Monday in an attempt by an inmate to escape custody. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel on Niles Road in St. Joseph, followed by a Celebration of Life Service Friday at 1 p.m .at the Mendel Center on the Lake Michigan College campus in Benton Harbor. No funeral arrangements have been announced yet for Ron Kienzle, who was also shot and killed on Monday at the courthouse in St. Joseph.. ...Read Full Story

The state of Michigan has tapped two companies to analyze the financial risk of an oil pipeline rupture in the Straits of Mackinac and evaluate any alternatives to the pipeline. Enbridge Energy, based in Calgary, Alberta, has agreed to pay $3.5 million but will not oversee the studies. Enbridge owns the twin oil pipelines in the area where lakes Huron and Michigan converge. Det Norske Veritas will determine how much money would be needed to clean up an oil spill. Dynamic Risk Assessment Systems will study alternatives to Line 5. The announcement was made Tuesday. Line 5 carries nearly 23 million gallons of light crude oil and liquefied natural gas daily. It runs across Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula before entering the Straits of Mackinac. It ends in Sarnia, Ontario.. ...Read Full Story

This weekend will bring the start of the next Adopt a Highway cleanup week in Michigan. Dan Weingarten, with the Michigan Department of Transportation, says more than 3,000 groups of all stripes from around the state will take to roads to pick up trash. He says their efforts make a big difference each year.. ...Read Full Story

A unity walk is coming up this weekend. The event is planned by the Mosaic CCDA in response to recent violent events in the news around the country, including Monday’s Berrien County Courthouse shootings. Organizer Jameel McGee says they want everyone to get together and talk with police and other groups about maintaining trust in the community.. ...Read Full Story

Court cases stemming from the Fourth of July weekend melee at South Haven’s North Beach have started to get processed. Van Buren County court officials say about ten people arrested during the disturbance were arraigned Tuesday, with charges that included disturbing the peace, resisting police, and assault. Police say a total of about 50 arrests were made on July 3 when the crowd at North Beach got rowdy. The beach was also evacuated. Additionally, large number of citations were issued for having alcohol on the beach. City officials say they’re reviewing how to to handle next year’s Light Up the Lake fireworks show, and also whether to hold it all.. ...Read Full Story

The victims of Monday’s courthouse shootings in Berrien County have been honored in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, Congressman Fred Upton spoke on the House floor, expressing his grief for the loss of Joseph Zangaro and Ronald Kienzle.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Jail inmate who police say shot and killed two court officers on Monday had been facing a variety of criminal charges. Larry Darnell Gordon had been charged with criminal sexual conduct, first degree, and a host of other offenses that included assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence. He was arrested in April over an incident that allegedly occurred in February. Police also say he had a criminal record going back to 1992 which included convictions for crimes including unarmed robbery, fleeing a police officer, third degree, and burglary. Gordon was fatally shot by a Berrien County sheriff’s deputy after he shot and killed two court security officers Monday. He also shot a sheriff’s deputy who is recovering and a woman identified as Kenya Ellis, who is also recovering.. ...Read Full Story

Security procedures at the Berrien County Courthouse will be reviewed following Monday’s fatal shootings. Berrien County Chief Judge Gary Bruce says a report will be done, and all of the right questions will be asked in the coming weeks. Speaking to WSJM Tuesday, he said questions about handcuffing practices and other security-related matters at the courthouse will be addressed soon. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Courthouses in both St. Joseph and Niles will remain closed to the public Wednesday. The closure is in response to Monday’s shooting incident. The Berrien County Administrator’s office says court staff should still report for work, and there will be grief counselors on hand for them. It’s not saying when the courthouse will be reopened to the public, and advises everyone to monitor news media for further information. Meanwhile, the Berrien County Health Department at the Niles location will be open Wednesday.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says a Mattawan man is facing charges after police say he was caught intoxicated with a shotgun Tuesday. It happened around midnight after deputies were called to a home in the 27,000 block of County Road 364 on a report of a possible prowler. Soon after arriving, they heard someone yelling, and found the 19-year-old suspect in a yard. He had a 12-guage shotgun, and police say he was drunk. The man tried to run, but was caught after a short time. He’s now charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, minor in possession, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. His name has not yet been released.. ...Read Full Story

Citizens of Berrien County are honoring the fallen law enforcement officials of Monday’s shooting at the courthouse.
Hundreds braved the heat Tuesday to pay tribute to Joseph Zangaro and Ronald Kienzle, the Berrien County Court Bailiffs who were killed during the shooting incident Monday afternoon. The crowd gathered in the courthouse parking lot, and proceeded to walk to the Law Enforcement Memorial on Lake Boulevard, where flowers were placed on the memorial wall and local leaders offered words of encouragement.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is among thousands mourning the shooting deaths of two Berrien County court officers. It happened right outside the courtroom of Judge Charles LaSata, and Upton says he called him immediately upon hearing what was going on.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey now says a jail inmate’s hands were cuffed in front when he wrested a gun from a deputy and killed two bailiffs at the courthouse in St. Joseph. Bailey says he had wrong information Monday when he said the inmate, Larry Darnell Gordon of Coloma, was not handcuffed. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Bailey says Gordon got into a fight with a deputy while being escorted to a courtroom from a holding cell. Two bailiffs were killed and two people were injured before Gordon was killed by other officers. The sheriff says an investigation will reveal more details about what happened. The deputy who was escorting Gordon is in a hospital with injuries that aren’t life-threatening.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee says he doubts last week’s deadly sniper shooting in Dallas will lead to any meaningful gun reforms. The Flint Democrat says, after incidents in Dallas and Orlando, he’s grown frustrated by Republicans in the House.. ...Read Full Story

The preparation work to demolish the former Mercy Hospital building in Benton Harbor is now underway. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski says the contractor is on site, and a lot needs to be done before they can take the wrecking ball to the structure.. ...Read Full Story

Two Berrien County court officers are dead after an inmate of the county jail grabbed one of their guns on Monday afternoon. Sheriff Paul Bailey identified the victims as 61-year-old Joseph Zangaro and 63-year-old Ronald Kienzle. Police say Zangaro was the supervisor of court security and had worked for the court since 2004. He was a retired Michigan State Police Bridgman post commander. Kienzle had worked for the trial court since 2005, and was a retired Benton Township police sergeant. Berrien County Sheriff’s Deputy James Atterberry was also shot, and is recovering at Lakeland Hospital, along with a woman whose name hasn’t been released. The inmate has been identified as 45-year-old Larry Darnell Gordon, of Coloma. Bailey says Gordon was able to get an officer’s gun during a struggle.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says it’s found shelters for almost all of the more than 100 dogs it seized during an animal cruelty investigation last month. Sergeant Dan Abbot says shelters all across Michigan have taken in the animals.. ...Read Full Story

Support for the victims of Monday’s courthouse shootings in St. Joseph is pouring in from all over the country. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted, “Thoughts and prayers with the victims, and their families – along with everyone at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan.” Closer to home, Congressman Fred Upton writes, “We have lost two very able public servants and we all grieve for them and their families.” Similar sentiments were expressed by U.S. Senator Gary Peters, who wrote he’s “deeply saddened by the tragic shootings at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph.” State Senator John Proos commended the professionalism of local law enforcement in responding, and state Representative Al Pscholka said, “We are in a very difficult time across America right now, and this is hitting very close to home.”. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says Monday was a dark day for the community, with two court bailiffs killed by a jail inmate. He’s asking for the public’s support.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey gives an update on the shooting at the Berrien County Courthouse. A follow-up conference will be held at 6:00 pm.. ...Read Full Story

Three people are dead following a shooting at the Berrien County Courthouse Monday. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says it happened shortly after 2 p.m.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Courthouse has been evacuated following a reported shooting there this afternoon. It happened about 2 p.m. Witness Mark Laukus, of St. Joseph, tells us it was outside of the courtroom of Judge Charles LaSata.. ...Read Full Story

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Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette faces some criticism for what opponents say is an attack on the rights of transgender students. Schuette added Michigan to a lawsuit on Friday involving nine other states. It attempts to block a guidance from the Obama administration promoting equal treatment of transgender students in schools, claiming the rules are unlawful.. ...Read Full Story

A northern Indiana woman is being treated for serious injuries sustained when her motorcycle hit an SUV head-on Sunday in Galien Township. 50-year-old Gloria Helenbolt wasn’t wearing a helmet. Investigators with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department say she sideswiped two other vehicles on US 12 before going into the east-bound lane and colliding with the SUV. Helenbolt is hospitalized at South Bend Memorial. No one else was hurt.. ...Read Full Story

We have Michigan’s lowest gas prices in southwest Michigan. According to Triple-A, Benton Harbor and St. Joe stand at $2.13, though some stations in Benton Harbor are down to $2.03. South Haven prices are under $2 a gallon, as are prices in Dowagiac. Triple-A puts the state average at $2.29, down 9-cents from last week and a drop of 60¢ from this time last year. Prices have dropped around Michigan for four consecutive weeks after spiking and giving the state the nation’s second-highest average price in early June. The auto club says Michigan’s average price is the 24th most expensive average in the country.. ...Read Full Story

Type C botulism has been diagnosed in wild waterfowl along the east arm of northern Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay and along Marsh Creek in Wayne County’s Woodhaven. State Natural Resources officials say dead mallards were collected during the first week in July. Tests confirmed type C botulism. Birds catch botulism by ingesting a naturally occurring toxin produced by bacteria in sediments beneath water bodies. Rising Great Lakes levels have created shallow-water areas on previously exposed mudflats, creating conditions for the bacteria to grow. Dabbling ducks and other shore birds that feed in the sediments are vulnerable. As of Thursday, about 20 mallards from Grand Traverse Bay and 50 from Wayne
County were found dead from the condition. Officials say the botulism poses no immediate risk to people.. ...Read Full Story

The weather was perfect for the 2016 Smooth Jazz at Sunset concert, Saturday night at Shadowland Pavilion in St. Joseph. Mindi Abair was the headliner this year who’s career includes two Grammy nominations. She spent two seasons on American Idol which led her to joining Aerosmith as their first saxophonist since 1973. The opening act for Smooth Jazz was Bryan Lubeck, who has sold over 10-thousand CDs. His most recent release, “Tuscan Sky” and spent 15 weeks on the Top 40 Smooth Jazz Radio Charts.. ...Read Full Story

Ten states are suing the federal government over rules requiring public schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms conforming to their gender identity. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in Nebraska. The other states involved are Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson says in a news release that the U.S. Education Department and Justice Department have circumvented established law and the process for changing existing laws. Peterson also says the rule takes away the authority of local school districts to deal with such issues on an individualized basis.. ...Read Full Story

The star of the Disney film “The Finest Hours” is on display at the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven. We’re talking about the 36-foot motor lifeboat used in the film. Museum Executive Director Patty Montgomery says they’ve been working for several years to get the boat on display…. ...Read Full Story

Following the recent police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana, as well as Thursday’s killings of five police officers in Texas, Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad says police and the communities they serve need to better communicate. Muhammad says he recently attended a national mayor’s conference in Washington, D.C., and was among those asked by President Obama to ask their local police to find ways of addressing police misconduct while also thanking them for their service. Muhammad says he’s spoken with Department of Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis about the issue.. ...Read Full Story

Time is running out to sign up to have unwanted pesticides disposed of by Berrien County. The parks and recreation department says Wednesday, July 27 will be the final Clean Sweep collection of 2016 for unwanted agriculture pesticides. It’s a chance to get rid of those chemicals in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The registration deadline is July 13, next Wednesday. Anyone who wants to sign up can call Berrien County Environmental Property Manager Jill Adams at 983-7111, extension 8234. Or, you can get a form to sign up at Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County MSU Extension offices or Conservation District offices. They’ll also provide you with the drop-off site details. More than 2.2 million pounds of unwanted pesticides have been properly disposed through the statewide Clean Sweep program since it started. The next closest Clean Sweep collection site is located in Kalamazoo.. ...Read Full Story

Farmers in southwest Michigan are being mostly spared from the abnormally dry conditions that have been threatening crops elsewhere in the state. Mark Longstroth, with the MSU Extension office in Van Buren County, says drought stress is only showing up in some of the corn and soybeans. He says the region’s fruits are faring quite well.. ...Read Full Story

Donald Trump is to appear with Indiana Governor Mike Pence at a fundraiser next week. Pence is considered a leading candidate to be Trump’s running mate, and he’s listed as a host of Tuesday’s Indianapolis event on an invitation obtained by The Associated Press. A Pence spokesman confirmed the governor’s plans to attend the private fundraiser. Tickets range from $2,700 per person to $250,000 per  couple. An appearance by Pence would be the latest in a series of apparent auditions for Trump’s vice presidential prospects. Tennessee Senator Bob Corker and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich both appeared  at rallies with Trump this week. Corker has since withdrawn his name from consideration. And New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is also being vetted for the post, was set to appear with Trump in Miami on Friday before the event was canceled because of the mass shooting in Dallas. Trump is expected to name his choice in the coming days.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is hailing U.S. House action designed to reduce the abuse of opioids. Following this week’s passage of the conference report to accompany the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, Upton issued a statement saying the “overwhelming bipartisan vote of 407-5 underscores the urgency” in addressing the nation’s growing epidemic of deaths by opioid abuse. Speaking on the House floor in May, Upton noted the issue has become a major health crisis.. ...Read Full Story

The 55th Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff is underway in downtown St. Joseph. Thousands of visitors have taken to the bluff to see and purchase the work of 200 jewelers, ceramic artists, painters, sculptors, glass artists, and more. Krasl Art Center Marketing Director Breeze Ettl says the event is one of the biggest art shows in  the country.. ...Read Full Story

A new feature is coming to the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven this Sunday. A 36-foot Coast Guard boat will be welcomed with a day of free admission and a salute to the Coast Guard. The Maritime Museum’s Ashley Deming says this particular vessel is noteworthy in that it was featured in the recent film, “The Finest Hours.”. ...Read Full Story

Thousands of undocumented immigrants are worried that their sign up information for President Obama’s “Dreamers” program now could get them deported. Last month’s Supreme Court decision striking down parts of the president’s executive action means a federal judge’s pending order for the release of 50,00 immigrants’ names and addresses still is a threat. The order could be upheld at an August 22 hearing. Thomas Saenz, with MALDEF, says the order affects only some of the millions who registered for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or ‘DACA’ program.. ...Read Full Story

Eighteen cownose stingrays and three spotted bamboo sharks have died after an apparent pump malfunction in a lagoon at a western Michigan Zoo. The John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids reports Friday on its website that one of two pumps for the lagoon shut down late Thursday and the backup alarm system designed to notify staff also did not function properly. Officials say flooding from thunderstorms that began moving across the state Thursday may have shorted a circuit connected to the pumps. Staff found the stingrays and sharks dead Friday morning. Low oxygen levels were found in water samples. Officials say the zoo “is currently discussing the best way to honor and memorialize these amazing special animals who brought so much joy and amazement to so many people.”. ...Read Full Story

It’s time for the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in downtown St. Joseph. Krasl Marketing Director Breeze Ettl says the 55th annual event is expected to attract more than 50,000 people to the area. They’ll be able to browse and purchase the work of 200 artists along the bluff starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.. ...Read Full Story

Employers shook off two months of weak hiring and added 287,000 jobs in June. Michigan News Network Business Editor Murray Feldman reports the unemployment rate rose from 4.7 to 4.9%.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation is warning drivers to beware of closures this weekend at the interchange connecting US-131 and I-94 in Kalamazoo County. Closures this weekend will affect all ramps except southbound US-131 onto I-94, says MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa.. ...Read Full Story

A ribbon cutting ceremony has been held to celebrate the completion of the first phase of a Pokagon tribal village development in Hartford. On Friday, eight housing units that have been finished at a roughly 40-acre site on Red Arrow Highway, not far from the Pokagon’s Four Winds Casino Hartford, were unveiled. Tribal Government Manager Jason Wesaw says the village will continue to expand into the future. He notes the Pokagons have always had a presence in the Hartford area, and says it’s nice to see progress on providing housing for some of those residents.. ...Read Full Story

The National Weather Service is warning about dangerous conditions along some Lake Michigan beaches this weekend. It says that on Saturday, July 9, wind speeds and waves will be high. The weather service has issued a beach hazards statement for 11 p.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Saturday from St. Joseph all the way up to Manistee. Rip currents are possible, and the weather service says swimming conditions could be dangerous. Relatively cool weather this Saturday could help to keep some people out of the water.. ...Read Full Story