The Ghostlight Theater in Benton Harbor is ready to begin renovations on its Arts District building now that it’s completed the location’s purchase. Ghostlight’s Martha Hesse tells WSJM News thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, they now own the building at 101 Hinkley Street. Everything started with $50,000 and a fundraiser back in August.. ...Read Full Story
This Thursday is the Great American Smokeout, when smokers are urged to give quitting a go. The Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News 17% of Berrien County residents are still smokers, which is a problem.. ...Read Full Story
The Michigan Department of Transportation is ready to go for the winter. Spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News construction projects in southwest Michigan, especially Berrien County, look like they’ll all be wrapped up before the end of construction season.. ...Read Full Story
By Doug Cunningham. ...Read Full Story
State Representative Mary Whiteford of Casco Township has been selected as the Republican Assistant House Majority Floor Leader for the next legislative session. Whiteford tells us she’s glad to have moved up into a new leadership position.. ...Read Full Story
Some Michigan communities are already saying no to marijuana businesses after voters approved the use of the drug for people 21 and older. The St. Joseph City Commission voted prior to the election to opt out, and last night the Niles City Council also voted to temporarily opt out of allowing retail marijuana sales in the city.. ...Read Full Story
We all love our pets and despite our best efforts to keep them safe and secure sometimes they escape outdoors. That’s one reason the Al-Van Humane Society and Community Education Center is having a free microchipping clinic for pet owners from Allegan and Van Buren Counties. Board President Lisa Galdikas spoke with WSJM News about the program.. ...Read Full Story
The St. Joseph City Commission is expecting to have the draft of a non-discrimination ordinance on the table within the next three months that would provide legal protection in the city for LGBTQ residents. Mayor pro tem Laura Goos says there is a lot of research that still needs to go into the ordinance, but they have established some guiding principles for city attorney Laurie Schmidt to consider.. ...Read Full Story
A Turkey Day tradition is ending in St. Joseph, as the city will not have the John and Dede Howard Ice Arena open on Thanksgiving this year. The numbers for skating on the holiday have been trending lower in recent years, based on the weather, and city officials have determined they’d much rather have arena employees be able to enjoy the holiday with their families. Mayor Mike Garey says city employees go above and beyond what’s expected and deserve a break.. ...Read Full Story
A team from the University of Michigan has spent the past year studying problems faced by the city of Benton Harbor and how they could be addressed. At a Monday meeting, members of U of M’s Urban Collaboratory gave the public an update on their progress. The Collaboratory’s Jerome Lynch told WSJM News one focus is the Ox Creek watershed, which is affected by runoff. The team has put sensors into the creek to study the issue and believes simple valves in existing infrastructure like dams could be used to control how much runoff winds up in the creek and when, along with how polluted it is.. ...Read Full Story
