Last week’s mass shooting at a high school in Florida has many parents around the country nervous about sending their kids to class each day, but school leaders in southwest Michigan say they do all they can to ensure a safe environment is always maintained. Covert Public Schools Director of Communications Brittany Millan tells WSJM News visitors to the school will have to answer some questions before being let in.. ...Read Full Story
As floodwaters recede throughout southwest Michigan, there comes the risk of people trying to scam flood victims. The Better Business Bureau of West Michigan’s Phil Catlett tells us the bogus contractors can be very persuasive and slick, but you are far better off taking your time and doing your homework first.. ...Read Full Story
Among the businesses in southwest Michigan that have stepped forward to help flood victims is United Federal Credit Union. UFCU announced on Tuesday a $5,000 donation to United Way of Southwest Michigan and the Berrien Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund to help with the recovery needs of families impacted by flooding. Not only that, but starting this week and running through March 28, UFCU will match donations made to the fund for a total of up to $10,000. UFCU President Terry O’Rourke says, “Emergencies like this can create lasting financial hardships and we are hoping to help alleviate some of that burden.” He adds the situation is “heartbreaking.” Donations to be matched by UFCU can be dropped off at any UFCU branch location. You can also make a donation directly through the United Way of Southwest Michigan’s website at UWSM.org/Relief.. ...Read Full Story
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education has ordered Superintendent Shelly Walker to undergo two examinations as it continues an investigation into her performance. At a Wednesday meeting, the surprise resolution was read by Trustee Lisa Gulley.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office is putting out word to parents and children in the area that it takes any potential threat to a school seriously and will pursue criminal charges when applicable. Prosecutor Michael Sepic tells WSJM News in recent weeks there has been a rash of statements by students in some local schools amounting to potential threats of violence. The prosecutor’s office and police have investigated incidents at public school districts in Bridgman, St. Joseph, Watervliet, and Berrien Springs, along with at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs. Sepic says in most cases, it was determined no threat was actually made. However, in the cases involving Watervliet Schools and Andrews Academy, a petition will be filed with the Berrien County Juvenile Court alleging threatening electronic communications. Sepic says it is unknown whether the cases will be accepted by the court. He adds in each case, law enforcement has taken considerable time and acted with great speed.. ...Read Full Story
It took a Cass County jury about ten minutes to conclude that driving a riding lawnmower while intoxicated is enough to warrant a drunk driving conviction. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz tells us the case involves 32-year-old Steven Bakeman of Dowagiac. The prosecutor says Bakeman was arrested the night of June 11 when sheriff’s deputies found him riding a John Deere lawnmower down Middle Crossing Road in Silver Creek Township. The deputies had been called to the area by nearby children concerned about Bakeman’s level of drinking. When deputies found him on the mower on the dark road, it had no lights. The prosecutor says Bakeman failed to complete a field sobriety test and his blood alcohol level tested for more than three times the legal limit. A trial this week ended with a unanimous guilty verdict from the jury on a charge of operating while intoxicated. It was his third drunk driving conviction, and he faces up to five years in prison.. ...Read Full Story
It’s possible Congress will approve some gun control measures following the nation’s most recent mass shooting, this time at a high school in Florida on Valentine’s Day. That’s the thought of Congressman Fred Upton, who tells us the bipartisan “Problem Solvers” have talked about the issue this week. Upton spoke with students from Parkland High School in Florida on Tuesday, and tells WSJM News the talk about gun control is serious.. ...Read Full Story
Southwest Michigan residents are proving to be caring when it comes to their neighbors. The United Way of Southwest Michigan tells WSJM News the disaster relief fund it set up last week to help out folks affected by floods this month has already raised more than $20,000. That’s in just about five days. United Way’s Anna Murphy tells WSJM News the money will be used for a variety of needs.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Michigan residents will get a $25 tax cut per individual within a few years under legislation signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. The Republican governor signed the bills Wednesday at his Capitol office in Lansing. GOP legislative leaders who pushed for the tax relief joined him for the bill-signing event. The measure also clarifies that Michigan’s personal tax exemption continues,
after concerns were raised that the recent federal tax cuts could eliminate it due to how the state code is linked to the U.S. code. The main bill gradually raises the personal exemption until it gets to $4,900 in the 2021 tax year – $600 higher than what it was scheduled to reach. That is a $25.50 tax cut per individual, or $102 for a family of four.. ...Read Full Story
A whole lot of bridge work is about to get started in Berrien County. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News MDOT will be doing repairs on the bridges going over I-94 at M-239, Kruger Road, Lakeside Road, Maudlin Road, and Union Pier Road starting this Thursday. There’s a reason why all are being done at the same time.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team is searching the Paw Paw River for a missing kayaker. Emergency crews were called to the river near the 42-hundred block of R. Smith Street in Watervliet just before 8 p.m. Tuesday after two kayakers hit a log in the river and were tossed out of their watercraft. One was able to swim to shore, but a 35-year-old Niles man remains missing. The dive team resumed the search at daybreak today.. ...Read Full Story
A year of probation is the penalty for a Buchanan man for the deaths of two people from Indiana last April in a crash. 81-year-old Charles Habenicht pulled out in front of a motorcycle in Oronoko Township, hitting the bike and killing David and Christine Cox of Granger. Habenicht pleaded no contest to a single charge of a moving violation causing death, and will also have to pay almost $31,000 in court costs, restitution for funeral expenses and fines. He’s not allowed to drive for the next year and will also have to perform 250 hours of community service as part of the plea deal and sentencing agreement. Habenicht was sentenced in a Berrien County courtroom yesterday.. ...Read Full Story
The Bridgman Police Department could use the public’s help in catching some vandals who have damaged windows around town. The department says on its Facebook page someone’s been shattering glass doors and windows with what appears to be a pellet gun or small caliber firearm. Anyone who has information that could lead to an arrest in the case is asked to call the Bridgman Police Department or Crimestoppers. Tipsters can remain anonymous.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — State legislators have stalled an attempt to repeal a statute that regulates vehicular transportation of marijuana. The Michigan Senate voted 19-16 Tuesday against the House bill Tuesday. It would annul a law that classifies vehicle transportation or possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor, unless it’s enclosed in a case in the trunk or – if there’s no trunk – in a case not readily accessible from the vehicle’s interior. Proponents of the bill say the current restriction is unnecessary because marijuana is prohibited in all scenarios without a medical card, while medical marijuana patients are already exempt from the rule. In 2016, the state’s Court of Appeals ruled that medical marijuana patients in compliance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act cannot be prosecuted for
violating the vehicle transport provision.. ...Read Full Story
The search is on in St. Joseph for a man who robbed a gas station in the 2800 block of Niles Avenue Tuesday night. Public safety tells WSJM News the suspect is a white man who was wearing a ski mask, and they don’t have any other information on him, including his height or an approximate weight. The robbery happened as the St. Joe Mart Marathon station was closing around 10:30 p.m., and St. Joseph Public Safety and St. Joseph Township police spent about 90 minutes at the scene and searching the area between Niles Avenue and Lakeland Hospital. A K-9 was unable to track the suspect, who had made off with all the money from the register. We’ve not been told if a weapon was used in the holdup. If you have any information, call St. Joseph Public Safety or 9-1-1.. ...Read Full Story
A new report from the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research takes a look at west Michigan’s economy now versus at the start of the Great Recession. Upjohn economist Brian Pittelko tells WSJM News they looked at data from January of 2007 through the end of 2009. What’s striking is how slow the economic recovery was.. ...Read Full Story
State and federal leaders from southwest Michigan are waiting for Governor Rick Snyder to accept Berrien County’s disaster declaration following this month’s floods. State Senator John Proos tells WSJM News he toured Berrien Springs and Niles Monday and was convinced the Berrien County Board of Commissioners was justified in declaring that disaster.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Treasurer’s office says the Orchards Mall in Benton Township is once again facing foreclosure. Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News the mall’s owners owe $275,000 in property taxes from 2015, and if it’s not paid by April 3, then the county will foreclose. Witkowski will not allow a payment plan for the mall.. ...Read Full Story
Unit 2 of the Cook nuclear power plant is about to undergo another refueling outage. Cook plant spokesperson Bill Schalk tells WSJM News Unit 1 just wrapped up a refueling outage late last year. When Unit 2 shuts down at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, there will be a large number of extra workers on site to help with maintenance.. ...Read Full Story
Indiana Michigan Power is hoping to restore power soon to 300 homes in Berrien County affected by flooding. Spokesperson Schnee Garrett tells WSJM News the restorations come slowly as public safety officials give them the all-clear. She has a suggestion to affected homeowners.. ...Read Full Story
Road closures remain in effect in several locations throughout Berrien County due to this month’s flooding. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us drivers should stay away from roads that are barricaded until the roads get the all-clear. In some cases, the road department needs to do engineering inspections done on the roads that were left impassable due to flooding before they can reopen.. ...Read Full Story
A plan to prevent the sexual abuse of young athletes has been introduced in Lansing. On hand for a press conference Monday for the package’s unveiling were victims of former MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar. State Representative Beth Griffin has a bill in the plan that would add coaches, assistant coaches, and athletic trainers to the list of authority figures required to report evidence of abuse. Griffin, a former teacher, told us more adults should have to look out for young athletes.. ...Read Full Story
If your home has been damaged by flooding, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department wants you to know the right way to report that damage. It’s set up a webpage where damage reporting can be done, and there is also a phone line open for that purpose. You can find the webpage right here, and the phone number to call is 1-800-815-5485. The dedicated phone lines for flood damage reporting will be staffed through this Friday. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. . ...Read Full Story
Democrats in the state House are making their agenda for this coming election known. At the top of their list is fixing Michigan roads. State Representative Jeremy Moss of Southfield says the additional funding recently passed by the House and awaiting a Senate vote is not enough.. ...Read Full Story
The Kalamazoo Public Safety Department has released the name of the man whose body was found by a kayaker in the floodwater near a business along Riverview Drive on Sunday. Captain Shannon Bagley says 48-year old James Jackson’s family has been notified of his passing. The investigation continues. They say that his car was found submerged not far from where his body was found in the deep water under the rail viaduct and the intersection of East Michigan and Riverview. An autopsy was conducted. They are now waiting for toxicology tests which could take a month or more.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — The federal Education Department has opened an investigation into how Michigan State University handled allegations of sexual assault against Dr. Larry Nassar. Nassar was a campus sports doctor who has been sentenced to decades in prison
for sexually assaulting gymnasts and other women and girls and for child pornography crimes. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says investigators will look at “systemic issues” with regard how to the school deals with such complaints. She says Nassar’s actions “are unimaginable.” She adds, “The bravery shown by the survivors has been remarkable.” DeVos says the university’s acting president, John Engler, has ordered the school to cooperate fully with the investigation. The Michigan Attorney General’s office also is investigating Michigan State’s handling of Nassar.. ...Read Full Story
The Better Business Bureau of West Michigan has issued list of what you should and shouldn’t do if you’re a flood victim to avoid scammers. Phil Catlett of the BBB says floods and natural disasters tend to bring out the worst in people.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Teachers looking for a way to work Michigan’s animals and plants into their lessons have a new option to choose from. The state Department of Natural Resources has developed a curriculum called Michigan’s Wondrous Wetlands and Waterfowl. It’s intended for students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades and will provide information about the importance of local wetland ecosystems. The six lessons focus on waterfowl species, their biology and life cycles, plus wetland management and history. The program also recommends a field trip to a local wetland. Educators are asked to register for the classroom program by March 30. Materials will be provided via email to eligible educators.. ...Read Full Story
The American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan is providing shelters for residents whose homes are flooded in Berrien County. American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan Director Breeze Ettle tells WSJM News they’re teaming up with the Berrien Community Foundation and the United Way of Southwest Michigan to raise money to help local residents.. ...Read Full Story
You may have seen images online this past weekend of some southwest Michigan residents riding jet skis around in flood water. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News that’s really not a good idea.. ...Read Full Story
