It’s a matter of grave concern for families of the recently-deceased in the city of South Haven cemetery. The city council approved a resolution for fairer burial plot pricing this week. City Manager Brian Dissette tells us the city had been charging the out-of-town rate for a plot in cases where the family being charged lived out of town, but the deceased was a resident.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated and take other precautions after confirming 15 cases of measles in Michigan this year. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services gave an update Friday,
saying it’s the highest level the state has seen since 1994 when 26 cases were reported. Earlier this week, the Oakland County Health Division said two Oakland County residents with the disease arrived on a flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus the evening of October 23. Health officials note measles is a highly contagious illness and vaccinations are an effective way to prevent it. Measles typically will start with a high fever, red eyes, runny nose, sensitivity to light, and eventually rashes on the face and head that progresses to other parts of the body.. ...Read Full Story
Covert Elementary School now has a Buddy Bench. The Buddy Bench is a place for students who feel lonely on the playground to make new friends. Students from many southwestern Michigan schools wrote in and this time Covert Public Schools was awarded a Buddy Bench from Mid-West Family Broadcasting and Honor Credit Union. Mariah Boss, who is the social services counselor at the school, spearheaded a student letter writing campaign to compete for the bench. She spoke with WSJM News.. ...Read Full Story
Michigan State Police are holding their annual Stuff a Blue Goose collection drive Saturday, November 10. The MSP will be stationed at Tyler Automotive in Niles and Fairfield Inn and Suites in Stevensville from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to collect toys, food, and clothing for those who are less fortunate, and everyone’s asked to stop by and help them out. The “Blue Goose” is a Michigan State Police patrol vehicle, and has been referred to as such for decades. State police hope to stuff their cars full of the toys, food, clothing, and monetary donations that people give. All of the items gathered will go to those families supported by Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass Counties, and everything stays local. Michigan State Police ask everyone to stop by and help to make the holidays a little better for the people of Berrien and Cass counties.. ...Read Full Story
Now that Michigan voters have approved Proposal 2 to turn over the drawing of legislative districts to a citizen commission instead of the state legislature, how will it all work? Katie Fahey, the founder of Voters Not Politicians, tells WSJM News this new commission will be four Democrats, four Republicans, and five independents.. ...Read Full Story
Coming up this month will be Adoption Day at the Van Buren County Courthouse in Paw Paw. Veronica Stillson with the Van Buren County Circuit Court Family Division tells WSJM News it’s a day when several adoptions are made official by the judge and everyone celebrates.. ...Read Full Story
Benton Harbor Area Schools has been released from its consent agreement with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Treasury spokesperson Ron Leix tells WSJM News since the district’s cooperative agreement with the Michigan Department of Education has been in place, the consent agreement, which covers finances, has taken a back seat. So…. ...Read Full Story
The Covert Township Police Department is investigating a fatal fire on Friday. It tells us the Covert Township Fire Department, Michigan State Police, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department, South Haven Area Emergency Services, and Pokagon Tribal Police all responded to the 29,000 block of 76th Street just before 7 a.m. for the fire at a mobile home. It was a single-wide with one occupant, and when responders arrived, the home was fully engulfed. Crews found 75-year-odl Jerry Lee Rawson on the ground outside. They believe he managed to crawl out of a window. Emergency crews performed CPR and Rawson was taken to Bronson South Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be performed. Fire personnel believe the cause of the blaze was misuse of a portable propane heater.. ...Read Full Story
A Covert Township mobile home is a complete loss after a Friday morning fire that broke out around 7 a.m. on 76th Street. The resident of the home is hospitalized at Bronson-South Haven Hospital, and authorities have not disclosed what the person’s injuries are. The cause remains under investigation. Covert Township firefighters were joined by those from Watervliet and South Haven Area Emergency Services.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says his legislative priorities before leaving office include pushing through fee increases to pay for environmental cleanup, water infrastructure and recycling needs. The Republican governor met with GOP lawmakers Thursday, the beginning of the “lame-duck” period. It’s a final chance for Republicans to enact bills before Democratic Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer takes office in January. Snyder also wants to work on a supplemental budget bill. He did not mention minimum wage and paid sick time ballot initiatives the Legislature enacted two months ago, but business groups want the Republican-led Legislature to amend those laws despite objections from Democrats. Snyder has proposed raising the landfill dumping fee and imposing a new state fee on water customers.. ...Read Full Story
