Local News Archives

A Buchanan woman who allegedly embezzled more than $1.9 million from her former employer has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for tax evasion. The U.S. Attorney out of Grand Rapids tells us 52-year-old Lynn Pawielski will also have to serve three years of supervised released after prison and pay restitution. She pleaded guilty to attempted tax evasion for 2015 when her income was more than $330,000, as opposed to the $150,000 she reported. It all stemmed from the embezzlement of more than $1.9 million from her former employer between 2009 and 2016. The U.S. Attorney dropped embezzlement charges against Pawielski in exchange for her guilty plea in the tax case. She will have to pay back more than $511,000 to the IRS and $1.9 million to her former employer, who has not been identified.. ...Read Full Story

There are now life rings installed on the north pier in St. Joseph. City Manager John Hodgson tells us the first six rings were put in just in time for Memorial Day, and the remaining six are expected in on Tuesday of this week. The city had mounts for the rings specially made, and the rings themselves were picked up from a Holland vendor. The total cost of obtaining and installing all 12 rings will be about $5,000 and Hodgson says an anonymous donor has offered to contribute about $1,000. The city started installing the rings at the far end of the pier, working from the lighthouse back to shore. It’s possible an instructional video for the life rings will be posted on the city’s website. St. Joseph City Commissioners in April agreed to have life rings installed on the north pier following a recommendation from the U.S. Cost Guard.. ...Read Full Story

After serving as Bangor Public Schools interim superintendent for eight months, Lynn Johnson has been hired for the position of superintendent full time. There were 14 applicants for the job, narrowed down to three finalists, and Johnson was selected. Johnson also served as the community education director. That position will now need to be filled. The school board will meet to go over Johnson’s contract and salary. He is expected to assume his new duties on July 1st.. ...Read Full Story

It’s a year in a residential treatment center as punishment for a plot to shoot up Paw Paw High School for a 15-year-old boy. He was charged in juvenile court and pleaded guilty to a felony explosives charge and a weapons count, with authorities dropping eight other charges. He was sentenced Monday. The teen’s parents turned him in to police after finding evidence of the plot, including a shotgun that had been stolen from his grandfather and sawed off so that it would fit in a bag. He will be treated at the Shawono Center in Grayling for the next year, and will be under court supervision until he turns 19.. ...Read Full Story

Congressional candidate Paul Clements isn’t backing down. The Kalamazoo Democrat is taking the state to court to be included on the August primary ballot in the 6th Congressional District after the Board of State Canvassers ruled Friday he was nine signatures short on his petitions. Clements tells WSJM News he was “shocked” by the reasoning invalidating signatures where voters marked incorrectly if they lived in a township or city in areas that share the same name like St. Joseph and Kalamazoo.. ...Read Full Story

What caused a Mishawaka woman to cross the center line on M-51 last night near the Four Winds Casino in Dowagiac is still not known. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says 34-year-old Lee Ann Saenz is in critical condition at South Bend Memorial after causing the crash that killed one backseat passenger in her car and a backseat passenger in the other vehicle. Two others who were in her car are in serious but stable condition at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph and Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. The driver of the other car is being treated at Borgess Lee Memorial for non-life-threatening injuries. The two people killed were 31-year-old David Conner of Niles and 37-year-old Tracy Seitenstich of Dowagiac.. ...Read Full Story

Details are few, but a head-on crash in Dowagiac has left two people dead and five others fighting for their lives. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on M-51 roughly a mile south of the Four Winds Casino near Crystal Springs Street. The five who have survived are hospitalized in critical condition. No names have been released, and the crash is still being investigated.. ...Read Full Story

Students at Michigan’s 15 public universities and 28 community colleges are finding more success, according to data reported this week by the state’s Center for Educational Performance and Information. Spokesperson Lauren Leeds tells WSJM News university students successfully complete their degrees after six years about 71% of the time. As for community college students…. ...Read Full Story

This year’s Mackinac Bridge Walk will have some new rules. The Mackinac Bridge Authority has releases a video outlining to potential walkers security protocols that will affect the walk experience.. ...Read Full Story

Walking tours around St. Joseph will once again be offered this summer by the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. Heritage Museum Curator Tracy Gierada tells WSJM News this year’s program will feature sculpture tours and history tours.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Manufacturers Association is expressing support for Governor Rick Snyder’s commitment this week of $50 million of state revenue toward the national effort to rebuild the Soo Locks. The association’s Mike Johnston tells WSJM News the manufacturing industry depends on the locks.. ...Read Full Story

Hot weather and summer vacation with the kids often means a trip to the beach. South Haven has seven public beaches and all them have beach warning flags that will inform you about swimming conditions in Lake Michigan at the beach where you are. South Haven Area Emergency Services Chief Ron Wise spoke with WSJM News about the matter.. ...Read Full Story

This year’s Bids for Barks auction to benefit the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan was a resounding success. So says the Humane Society, which tells us a record amount was raised at the event, held May 19 at the Mendel Center in Benton Township. Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan Board President Don Blackmond spoke with WSJM News about the auction.. ...Read Full Story

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph has released the schedule for this summer’s lighthouse tours. Curator Tracy Gierada tells us this will be the third year for the tours, which opened up in 2016 following the lighthouse renovations. She tells us there are a few different types of tours, starting with the walking tours.. ...Read Full Story

Just three months after it got started, the student food pantry at Southwestern Michigan College has gotten a big boost. At a meeting last month, Cass County 100+ Women Who Care voted to adopt the Roadrunner Kitchen. SMC Vice President of Instruction David Fleming tells WSJM News the food pantry began this year as a way for students to pick up items when in need.. ...Read Full Story

Excitement is brewing for the newest wine festival in southwest Michigan. Set for June 9 at Weko Beach in Bridgman will be the Makers Trail Festival, featuring 23 makers of wine and other spirits. Greater Bridgman Area Chamber Director Calli Berg tells WSJM News it’s all about celebrating what may be the region’s fastest growing industry.. ...Read Full Story

Downtown Bridgman will be a livelier place this summer thanks to a new series of events organized by the city and local merchants. Bridgman City Manager Juan Ganum tells WSJM News this past Friday brought the first of four Bridgman Family Friday Fests. The events are inspired by the winter Holiday Village festivities.. ...Read Full Story

A Michigan House committee has approved legislation from state Senator John Proos to encourage high school students to take more STEM classes. Proos tells WSJM News students who take extra science, technology, engineering, or math classes could get a STEM certification on their diploma or transcript. He says that would help those students find work.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation is notifying drivers of a partial road closure beginning in South Haven next week. MDOT tells us there will be single-lane closures and a temporary traffic signal for concrete pavement repairs on M-43 between Aylworth Avenue and Francis Street. The work starts Monday and will run through Friday, June 29. Drivers are reminded to give themselves a few extra minutes if they commute through that route. You can stay on top of all of MDOT’s summer road construction projects at the MIDrive website. It’s at Michigan.gov/MIDrive.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton has weighed in on the Trump administration’s new tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. In a statement issued Friday, Upton says, “We need to target tariffs to address specific unfair trading practices in a way that minimizes negative consequences for Michigan jobs, manufacturers, and consumers.” He goes on to say after speaking with local manufacturers and farmers, Upton has learned they believe a “trade war hurts Michigan.”. ...Read Full Story

Set for this summer is the second annual Trolling with the Troops fishing trip, and organizers are looking for some support. Trolling for the Troops co-organizer Scott Mann tells WSJM News the August 24 event will be a free Lake Michigan fishing trip for veterans.. ...Read Full Story

There are now just four Democrats set to appear on their party’s primary ballot for Congress in the Sixth District this August. On Friday, the State Board of Canvassers held up an opinion from the State Bureau of Elections that Paul Clements and Eponine Garrod did not turn in enough valid petition signatures to get on the ballot. The two appeared before the board at its morning meeting, and both said they felt that had collected enough signatures. The Michigan Secretary of State tells us Clements initially turned in more than 1,300 of the 1,000 needed petition signatures, but more than 300 of them were deemed invalid. Garrod turned in 1,019, leaving her much less wiggle room. 45 of her petition signatures were found to be invalid. The Democratic field for Congress in the Sixth District is now down to George Franklin, David Benac, Rich Eichholz, and Matt Longjohn.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police say a Paw Paw man who reported being shot with an arrow back in March was lying. Troopers from the Paw Paw post were called out to investigate on March 25 when Michael Downey reported he’d been shot in the neck with an arrow while walking in the woods on a trail close to the eastern edge of Van Buren County. Troopers tell us after an extensive investigation involving the MSP Crime Lab and a K9, they determined the report was false. Downey later admitted he’d made the story up. Downey was arraigned Friday on a charge of false report of a felony. Michigan State Police say they will seek restitution for the cost of the investigation.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up this Saturday is the fourth annual Southwest Michigan Mini Maker’s Faire at Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph. The fair is organized by Berrien RESA to celebrate that maker spirit that’s been growing in southwest Michigan. RESA Technology Consultant Joe Rommel tells WSJM News there will be all kinds of makers showing off the things they’ve produced. There will also be interactive displays.. ...Read Full Story

The Bangor Historical Society will be dedicating the Duane Goss Kalamazoo Toy Train this Saturday at the museum located at the old Ely Hardware building on West Monroe Street. Musum member Rick Dillman told WSJM News the toy trains are an important part of Bangor’s history.. ...Read Full Story

A new lawsuit accuses the Environmental Protection Agency of putting farmworkers in Michigan and other states at increased risk of pesticide exposure. Earthjustice and Farmworker Justice are suing the agency for its failure to issue a notice that updated pesticide training materials are available under the Worker Protection Standard passed in 2015. Earthjustice attorney Hannah Chang tells us the materials have been ready for more than a year, and are needed to protect workers.. ...Read Full Story

Excitement is brewing for the newest wine festival in southwest Michigan. Set for June 9 at Weko Beach in Bridgman will be the Makers Trail Festival, featuring 23 makers of wine and other spirits. Greater Bridgman Area Chamber Director Calli Berg tells WSJM News it’s all about celebrating what may be the region’s fastest growing industry.. ...Read Full Story

A man is hospitalized in Elkhart after being shot in northern Indiana and left at a Cass County gas station. Our newsgathering partners at WNDU NewsCenter 16 report the man was taken to a Marathon station in Union after being shot in Elkhart. Police were called and he was taken back over the border for treatment. The man’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and there’s no word on any suspect or if an arrest has been made.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Republican legislative leaders are at odds as a deadline nears to enact a marijuana legalization measure or let it go to a statewide vote in November. Tuesday is the deadline. The Legislature could adopt the citizen-initiated bill, which would enable lawmakers to later amend it. Or it could do nothing and let the proposal go on the ballot. Republican Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said Thursday there’s support within the Senate to pass the legislation, but he won’t vote unless the House gets on board. He accuses House Speaker Tom Leonard of standing in the way and doing a “poor job” educating his caucus. Leonard says there’s not enough support among House Republicans to pursue the initiative. He adds he’s no “dictator” and would allow a vote if there’s support.. ...Read Full Story

The horses are back in downtown St. Joseph. At least, they are two days a week through the rest of the summer. St. Joseph Today’s Amy Zapal tells WSJM News you can take free rides in horse-drawn trolleys on Wednesdays and Saturdays.. ...Read Full Story

Two of the Democratic candidates seeking their party’s nomination to run against Congressman Fred Upton in November will find out Friday if their names will appear on the primary ballot. Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Fred Woodhams tells WSJM News the state Bureau of Elections this week made a preliminary ruling against Paul Clements and Eponine Garrod.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Manufacturers Association is expressing support for Governor Rick Snyder’s commitment this week of $50 million of state revenue toward the national effort to rebuild the Soo Locks. The association’s Mike Johnston tells WSJM News the manufacturing industry depends on the locks.. ...Read Full Story

If you spent Memorial Day in South Haven, you may have noticed the Dyckman Bridge was up and stayed up for a few hours. South Haven Director of Public Works Bill Hunter told WSJM News what happened.. ...Read Full Story

The death of a six-week-old baby in under investigation in Berrien County. The sheriff’s department tells us deputies were called out to a home in the 3900 block of Fikes Road in Hagar Township around 6:20 a.m. Thursday on a report of an infant not breathing. They arrived to find the six-week-old child dead. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says the investigation into the case is ongoing, and an autopsy will be performed Friday at Western Michigan University. Child Protective Services is assisting. The sheriff’s department says upon completion of the investigation, the report will be forwarded to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office for review, which is customary in suspicious death situations.. ...Read Full Story

This year’s Mackinac Bridge Walk will have some new rules. The Mackinac Bridge Authority has releases a video outlining to potential walkers security protocols that will affect the walk experience.. ...Read Full Story

There were once seven Democrats running for their party’s nomination to challenge Congressman Fred Upton this fall, and now the field is down to five. Aida Gray was the first to drop out, as her name is not among the list of candidates in the most recent listing by the Secretary of State’s office. Now comes word state elections officials are recommending Western Michigan University professor Paul Clements, who won the nomination but lost to Upton in both 2014 and 2016, be removed from the primary ballot in August. A supporter of Democratic candidate Matt Longjohn filed a challenge that Clements didn’t have enough valid signatures of registered voters in the 6th Congressional District to qualify. If the recommendation stands, voters will chose between David Benac, Rich Eichholz, George Franklin, Eponine Garrod, and Longjohn in August.. ...Read Full Story

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph has released the schedule for this summer’s lighthouse tours. Curator Tracy Gierada tells us this will be the third year for the tours, which opened up in 2016 following the lighthouse renovations. She tells us there are a few different types of tours, starting with the walking tours.. ...Read Full Story

Among the topics being discussed at the Mackinac Policy Conference are “Opioids in the Workplace.” The discussion led by Barbara McQuade, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and law professor at the University of Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Japanese knotweed has been a problem for a few years in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, and now the invasive plant is in South Haven. City officials in the Van Buren County city have identified 13 locations where the plant has been found and are working to educate people about not trying to remove it. The city will be working on eradication by hiring a qualified contractor this fall. The plant can have roots ten-feet deep, and using normal weed killing chemicals only causes it to get stronger. New signs have been put up in South Haven helping people identify the plant and warning them to stay off of it and not cut it down, as that causes it to spread faster. The BBC reported in April that the largest study to date, done in Wales, determined there is no currently available method to get rid of Japanese knotweed.. ...Read Full Story

This year’s Bids for Barks auction to benefit the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan was a resounding success. So says the Humane Society, which tells us a record amount was raised at the event, held May 19 at the Mendel Center in Benton Township. Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan Board President Don Blackmond spoke with WSJM News about the auction.. ...Read Full Story

The fight that shut down Silver Beach County Park early on Monday evening is pushing a high school wrestling coach in South Bend to resign. Tony McWilliams posted on Facebook that he was stepping down as the coach at Washington High School because he’s upset by the school’s inaction regarding the bullying of his daughters. McWilliams says video of the fight shows his daughters being jumped by girls who had been bullying them at school. He says he will fight until he’s “satisfied with the outcome,” adding “zero tolerance is supposed to mean zero tolerance.” McWilliams says he “played along for a year” and is seeking “justice from everyone.” Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey told WSJM News this week that the fights at the beach were started by women who had come to town from northern Indiana.. ...Read Full Story

Democratic Candidate for governor Abdul El-Sayed says he has come up with a plan to fix Michigan’s crumbling roads. He spoke about the plan with Michigan News Network at the Mackinac Policy Conference.. ...Read Full Story

Students at Michigan’s 15 public universities and 28 community colleges are finding more success, according to data reported this week by the state’s Center for Educational Performance and Information. Spokesperson Lauren Leeds tells WSJM News university students successfully complete their degrees after six years about 71% of the time. As for community college students…. ...Read Full Story

Among those gathered at the Mackinac Policy Conference this week is state Senator John Proos. He told WSJM News just before leaving that he’d be on the island from Wednesday through Friday morning, not just meeting with other lawmakers.. ...Read Full Story

AAA of Michigan is calling the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day the 100 deadliest days on the road. For that reason, it’s reaching out to teens and reminding them of some safe driving tips. AAA spokesperson Gary Bubar tells Michigan News Network teen drivers have little to no experience, and are on the roads making mistakes like not leaving enough space between themselves and the vehicle in front of them.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up this Saturday is the fourth annual Southwest Michigan Mini Maker’s Faire at Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph. The fair is organized by Berrien RESA to celebrate that maker spirit that’s been growing in southwest Michigan. RESA Technology Consultant Joe Rommel tells WSJM News there will be all kinds of makers showing off the things they’ve produced. There will also be interactive displays.. ...Read Full Story

A Hartford man has been formally charged with felony assault for striking the arm of his uncle with a machete, causing a deep cut, during some sort of dispute between the two last week. 22-year-old Duane Dishman blurted out during his Tuesday hearing that he felt his uncle was trespassing and he was just defending his property. The victim was hospitalized at Bronson Lakeview for treatment of the deep cut, and is expected to recover. Dishman was on probation at the time of the assault, compounding his legal problems.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Time to Care Coalition has turned in over 382,000 signatures to the Bureau of Elections, more than enough to qualify for the November ballot. The ballot measure would provide nearly two million workers in Michigan the chance to take a day off when they’re sick or need to care for an ill child. The “Earned Sick Time Act” would guarantee employees at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Proponents of the ballot proposal argue that after years of waiting for action from elected officials, the people have stood up and have taken this issue into their own hands. Many employers already offer their workers paid sick time, but it is not a requirement.. ...Read Full Story

Hot weather and summer vacation with the kids often means a trip to the beach. South Haven has seven public beaches and all them have beach warning flags that will inform you about swimming conditions in Lake Michigan at the beach where you are. South Haven Area Emergency Services Chief Ron Wise spoke with WSJM News about the matter.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A newspaper investigation has found the Michigan fire marshal’s office hasn’t performed annual inspections of churches, theaters, restaurants or other places of public assemblage as required by state law. The Lansing State Journal reports that the Legislature has never funded the requirement. The state fire marshal’s office alleges local fire departments perform the inspections.
But surveys show that most fire departments statewide are all-volunteer with no inspectors on staff. Michigan also doesn’t track fires across the state or whether the burned buildings had been inspected. Lansing Fire Marshal Marshaun Blake says his office only inspects public
assemblage places if there’s a complaint, request or significant change to the building. Former state Fire Marshal Julie Secontine says Michigan has ignored the issue for four decades. She worries that Michigan won’t dedicate the resources needed until after a tragedy.. ...Read Full Story

It was a deadlier Memorial Day weekend this year than last. Preliminary reports sent in to Michigan State Police show 15 people were killed in 11 separate crashes, up from 10 dead in 10 crashes in 2017. Of those wrecks, alcohol was a factor in two, and five involved motorcycles. One of the people killed was a pedestrian. State police say the numbers could still go up, as those figures are only what had been reported to them as of yesterday morning. The holiday weekend ran from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday.. ...Read Full Story

Downtown Bridgman will be a livelier place this summer thanks to a new series of events organized by the city and local merchants. Bridgman City Manager Juan Ganum tells WSJM News this past Friday brought the first of four Bridgman Family Friday Fests. The events are inspired by the winter Holiday Village festivities.. ...Read Full Story

A Michigan House committee has approved legislation from state Senator John Proos to encourage high school students to take more STEM classes. Proos tells WSJM News students who take extra science, technology, engineering, or math classes could get a STEM certification on their diploma or transcript. He says that would help those students find work.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is expected to sign into law bills inspired by the Larry Nassar scandal, including one that would give childhood sexual abuse victims more time to sue. The current cutoff to file a lawsuit in Michigan is generally a victim’s 19th birthday, which critics say is out of step with the laws in other states and doesn’t account for how many victims are afraid to report abuse or have suppressed it. The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would allow people who were sexually abused as children to sue until their 28th birthdays or three years from when they realized they had been abused. Nassar victims would get a 90-day window to sue retroactively.Snyder is also expected to sign legislation that would give prosecutors additional time to file charges in second- and third-degree sexual conduct cases if the victim was younger than 18.. ...Read Full Story

Volunteers will be sprucing up part of South Haven on Thursday. SHOUT for South Haven tells us new soil has been placed in the planters on the Dyckman Bridge, which means it’s time for flowers. Starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, SHOUT volunteers will be out planting those flowers to serve as decorations for the whole summer. Anyone who wants to help is welcome to show up. Just bring some gloves and a trowel. The project should be completed in an hour or two. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but moved to Thursday due to expected rain.. ...Read Full Story

Rowdy crowds at Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph caused police to clear the place out Monday night, but there were no injuries in the incident. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey tells WSJM News his deputies started to break up some fights involving groups of people who arrived about 7 p.m. By 8:30, the decision was made to shut the place down.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Education Trust is spreading the word to parents about how they can help their children get a college education. Trust Executive Director Robin Lott told Michigan News Network this week parents can save for college via the trust.. ...Read Full Story

Some of the people getting off the ferry to attend the Mackinac Policy Conference on Tuesday were be handed lollipops by protesters. The lollies came with a plea “not to be a sucker” for Enbridge, the company behind the Enbridge Line Five oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. The conference draws the state’s biggest names in policy and business. David Holtz, with the “Oil and Water Don’t Mix Coalition,” says the 65-year-old pipeline is dangerous and should be decommissioned.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan workers would receive mandatory sick days under a newly filed initiative that could appear on the November ballot. The group Michigan Time to Care turned in 382,239 signatures Tuesday for a petition to create an “Earned Sick Time Act” that would guarantee employees at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Businesses with 10 or more workers would be required to provide at least 72 hours of earned sick time per year, while smaller ones would have to grant 40 hours. The proposal now awaits certification before heading to the Republican-controlled Legislature. If rejected there, the initiative would be put to a popular vote this fall. Since 2015, Michigan has prohibited local governments from requiring that businesses provide earned leave time and other benefits.. ...Read Full Story

The Harding’s on Niles Avenue in St. Joseph opened on time and with no issues this morning, but that’s after St. Joseph Public Safety responded to a small fire. Officers were dispatched just before 5 a.m. to the store and found a small fire in the neon sign. It was put out without any major damage, and there were no injuries.. ...Read Full Story