Local News Archives

St. Joe City Commission To Get Update On Vacant Home

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Several high-priortity items are before the St. Joseph City Commission tonight. In addition to getting an update from city officials about a long-vacant home in the 900 block of Wayne Street, they will discuss a six-month moratorium on new bed and breakfast establishments in R-1 residential zones ahead of a vote on that in two weeks. They will also vote on the recommendation to hire Sara McCallum as the city’s new Finance Director/City Clerk, with a start date of October 24. If approved, McCallum will earn $80,000 a year plus city benefits. Commissioners will receive the audit of the city’s finances for the last fiscal year from the firm of Abraham & Gaffney as well. The move to that firm follows years of Gerbel & Company handling the city’s yearly audit. Tonight’s meetings start at 6 p.m. with a special meeting followed by the regular city commission session at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph City Hall.. ...Read Full Story

Recommendations For MI Fall Color Tours

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It’s almost time to start planning your fall color tour in Michigan, and the state association of road commissions has released its list of recommended routes if you want to get the most spectacular views possible. Director Denise Donohue tells WSJM News you’ll find the best roads away from the major highways.. ...Read Full Story

BH Schools Looking To Boost Security

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Parents are being asked for their thoughts on how security could be improved at Benton Harbor Area Schools. That’s as the district pursues a $2 million state grant to enhance safety and help prevent gang activity. Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker tells WSJM News she can think of several things they could do for the kids with $2 million.. ...Read Full Story

MDOT Project To Mean Lane Closures In Van Buren County

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The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising drivers of a road project about to get started in Van Buren County that could affect some commutes. It says there will be lane closures on M-40 between Gobles and M-43 starting Monday while some resurfacing work is done. Flag controls will be in place in the affected areas. The project will wrap up on November 1. Anyone looking for more information on MDOT projects can keep themselves up to date with its app, MIDrive, which is available for both iPhone and Android.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Signs Good Samaritan Expansion

Legislation from state Representative Al Pscholka expanding Michigan’s Good Samaritan law has been signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The new law will allow people of any age to report someone having an overdose without fear of facing criminal charges. Pscholka’s original bill, allowing that exemption only to those under 21, was inspired by the death of a teenager from Watervliet. 16-year-old Mason Mizwicki died from an overdose that none of his friends reported. Pscholka says removing the fear of getting busted will help more people witnessing an overdose call it in, thus saving lives.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven Unveils Renovated Lighthouse

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The public has finally had a chance to feast its eyes on the newly renovated South Haven lighthouse. The plastic tarps covering the structure were stripped away Friday morning to show off the $300,000 in work the landmark has received. South Haven Historical Society President Amanda Creeden tells WSJM News the community has a vested interest in preserving its lighthouse.. ...Read Full Story

Proos Legislation Designed To Increase Library Access

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State Senator John Proos has introduced legislation that would let residents of Michigan and Indiana border communities use library services across state lines. The plan would sign Michigan on to the Interstate Library Compact, which is an agreement that makes libraries in different states available to people in other states also part of the agreement. The compact is made up of 34 states, including Indiana and Ohio. Proos says folks who live close to the Indiana border who want to use resources at some libraries across the state line should be able to do so. His bill is before the Senate Commerce Committee.. ...Read Full Story

New Format Coming To WHFB South Bend

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A brand new radio station will go on the air next week in South Bend, thanks to Midwest Family Broadcasting, South Bend. LIVE 99.9 will play top 40 hits and go live at noon on Tuesday. It replaces WHFB, which was a country station. The WHFT call letters have been retired, and the new station’s call letters at WQLQ. You’ll be able to hear hit makers like Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Drake on LIVE 99.9, along with a live weekday morning show, and an electronic dance music show on Saturday nights. Fans of the old WHFB FM are invited to turn a few notches down the dial to get their country fix on 97.9 Y Country.. ...Read Full Story

Meth Bust In Cass County

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The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team has nabbed a couple of suspected meth makers following a raid on Thursday. It says officers searched a property in the 70,000 block of Conrad Road in Milton Township after getting a tip. There, police found a meth lab, meth ingredients, and hazardous waste. They also found some meth paraphernalia. Arrest warrants will be issued for the suspects, and the case brought to the Cass County Prosecutor’s office. Police ask anyone with information on drug activity to report it at the Cass County Sheriff’s Department anonymous tip line. It’s 1-800-462-9328.. ...Read Full Story

Legislation Designed To Help Stores Sell Fresh Produce

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Legislation from state Representative Dave Pagel designed to increase access to fresh fruits and veggies is getting a thumbs up from American Heart Association members. The Michigan Healthy Food Access Campaign’s Ted O’Dell says the Healthy Food Assistance Act would create a pot of money for mom and pop shops to set themselves up for the sale of fresh produce.. ...Read Full Story

$6 Million In Criminal Justice Grants Announced For Michigan

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Criminal justice agencies across Michigan are getting more than $6 million in federal grants to strengthen crime fighting and anti-drug efforts. The money announced Friday by Michigan State Police comes from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program at the US Justice Department. MSP’s Nancy Becket Bennett tellsWSJM News it can be used a variety of ways.. ...Read Full Story

$5,300 Raised To Flush Out Cancer

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$5,300 has been raised to flush out cancer by WSJM sister station 98.3 The Coast. Staff, local celebrities, and community volunteers spent Friday at City Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning in downtown St. Joseph sitting on a pink toilet in one-hour shifts to raise money for Susan G. Komen of Michigan.The sitters also raced toilets around State Street. Last year, the event raised more than $4,000, and the goal for this time around was $5,000. Organizers thanked everyone who came out to show their support. Flushing Out Cancer was held in honor of Denise Bohn, who organized the event last year. To find out about contributing to the cause, contact 98.3 The Coast.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven Unveils Renovated Lighthouse

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The public has finally had a chance to feast its eyes on the newly renovated South Haven lighthouse. The plastic tarps covering the structure were stripped away Friday morning to show off the $300,000 in work the landmark has received. South Haven Historical Society President Amanda Creeden tells WSJM News the community has a vested interest in preserving its lighthouse.. ...Read Full Story

Pscholka’s Good Samaritan Law Expands

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Anyone in Michigan may report drug overdoses without fear of being prosecuted for illegal possession or use under legislation signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The House voted last month to exempt people of any age from prosecution if they report an overdose from any illegal substance or they require medical assistance themselves. In a statement following Thursday’s signing, Snyder says it’s “another powerful tool in the efforts to fight prescription drug and opioid abuse across our state.”. ...Read Full Story

Research Warns Of Urban Voting Problems

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Voter turnout could play a decisive role in next month’s election, and a new study warns some Americans may have a harder time casting ballots than others. Spencer Overton, with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, says data from the last election points to shortcomings in how polling is managed in urban areas.. ...Read Full Story

Travel Site Ranks Silver Beach Pizza As Best Pizza In Michigan

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Silver Beach Pizza in St. Joseph has received another distinction. The pizza joint below the bluff has been cited by Tripping.com as having the best pizza in the state of Michigan. Tripping is a travel website that only selected one pizza place in each state for the list, noting the importance of variety when it comes to getting a good pie. For Indiana, it says the best pizza can be found at Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza in Indianapolis, and in Illinois, it’s Lou Malnati’s in Chicago. The site doesn’t specify any reason why any place it picked is the best, but for St. Joseph residents, an explanation probably isn’t needed. Click here to see the fill list.. ...Read Full Story

Gas Prices Rising Again

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Gas prices have spiked again in the Great Lakes States. GasBuddy.com says a couple of factors are at work and a third could make the situation even worse. Analyst Patrick DeHaan says a pair of regional refineries have slowed production and that has put a crimp in the supply chain.. ...Read Full Story

Secretary Of Education To Visit Michigan Friday

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U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. has plans to visit Michigan on Friday to discuss the importance of exposing students to manufacturing careers and to highlight school-based health programs. The Detroit Free Press  reports his first stop in Warren will include a discussion with student apprentices at manufacturing
company Proper Tooling’s plastic-injection molding facility. The visit will coincide with Manufacturing Day, an annual celebration of modern manufacturing. King is then scheduled to host a conversation about school-based health services at Northwestern High School in Flint. King first Michigan visit doesn’t include a stop in Detroit. But King says he’s monitoring the city’s school system and remains concerned about low academic performance, an increase in poor-performing charter schools and potential school closures without clear plans for quality alternatives for students.. ...Read Full Story

Restored South Haven Lighthouse To Be Unveiled

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The Historical Association of South Haven will unveil the exterior of the city’s lighthouse Friday morning at 9:30. Since early September, work has been done to restore the sentinel, and it’s been surrounded by scaffolding and covered in plastic for the past month. Crews removed roughly 10 coats of paint, made needed repairs, and then put 52 gallons of red paint on. The $300,000 project was funded by the community-wide “Save The Light” initiative sponsored by the Historical Association of South Haven, and was helped by a Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant of $60,000. Mihm Enterprises of Hamilton, which also did the work on the St. Joseph lighthouse, restored the structure in South Haven. It will be formally re-dedicated in the spring.. ...Read Full Story

Clinton Jumps To Big Lead In Michigan

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A new poll shows Michigan might not be a battleground state, after all. EPIC-MRA finds Hillary Clinton has regained an 11-point lead over Republican Donald Trump following their first debate and is now up 43% to 32%, with 10% saying they are backing Libertarian Gary Johnson. 12% are undecided. The poll was done for “The Detroit Free Press” and WXYZ-TV. In a head-to-head poll between Clinton and Trump, she leads 46% to 36%. In the four-way race with Johnson and the Green Party’s Jill Stein involved, Trump has lost 3% support since September 15, Clinton has picked up 5%, Johnson has held steady, and Stein’s three-percent support is down by a point.. ...Read Full Story

Detroit Halloween Display Depicts Real Life Tragedies

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A Detroit woman says she hopes a display in her front yard this Halloween season will shine light on real-life horrors. MLive reports Larethia Haddon has placed six dummies in her front yard portraying police shootings, slain children, the Flint water crisis and other tragedies.
Last year, Haddon shocked passersby and caused calls to police when she placed a single dummy face-down in her yard, realistically depicting a dead body. Haddon says she wants to encourage critical thinking on the issues this year. Haddon says her 5- and 10-year-old grandchildren inspired the idea when they told her they weren’t afraid of the boogeyman or monsters, but of what’s happening in the world today. Haddon says she sets up the yard by 9 a.m. every day and takes it down when the sun begins setting.. ...Read Full Story

Haunted St. Joseph Tour Set For This Month

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The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph will be offering a haunted tour of the city this month. Saturday, October 15 will be the day for a guided walking tour of the downtown, and then a ride over to the city cemetery. Museum Curator Tracy Gierada tells WSJM News they’ll share spooky tales of the area.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Signs Police Officer Standards Into Law

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Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation sponsored by state senator Tonya Schuitmaker designed to tighten the standards for police officers around Michigan. Schuitmaker tells WSJM News it gives the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards — or MCOLES — the ability to revoke a cop’s certification under more conditions. That was in response to an incident involving a deputy in Van Buren County.. ...Read Full Story

SWM Winemakers Expecting A Good Year

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Wineries in southwest Michigan are hard at work harvesting their grapes for the next vintage this month, and they’re feeling pretty good about how it’s going to turn out. Mike Merchant, the wine maker at Tabor Hills, tells WSJM News the crop is a big improvement over other recent years.. ...Read Full Story

Kalamazoo County Tree Trimmer Killed In Fall

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A 49-year-old man has died after falling from a tree-trimming bucket truck in southwest Michigan. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department says Wednesday that Ronald Lee Phillips tumbled 50 feet to the ground Monday outside a home in Schoolcraft Township, south of Grand Rapids. The sheriff’s office says it appears that part of a tree that was being removed fell in an unexpected way, causing Phillips to fall. Phillips, of Three Rivers, was not wearing a safety harness.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan AG Charging Man With Threatening Cops Online

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A Detroit man has been charged with making threats on Facebook against police officers. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Detroit’s police chief announced charges Wednesday against Nheru Littleton. They say he used social media in July to encourage the killing of white officers after the fatal shooting of five officers in Dallas. Detroit Chief James Craig says a threat against an officer is a “threat against our entire community.” The 40-year-old Littleton is charged with using a computer to commit a crime and making a threat of terrorism. The status of his court appearance in Trenton and identity of his lawyer weren’t immediately known. In August, Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy had declined to file charges, citing evidence problems and other issues.. ...Read Full Story

“Coffee With A Cop” This Friday In Buchanan

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Everyone’s invited to head out to the Union Coffee House in Buchanan this Friday for Coffee with a Cop. It’s a program of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department to better engage the public. They’ll have officers there ready to chat with people about whatever’s on their minds. Deputy Kelly Laesch tells WSJM Nwws folks talk about a bunch of things.. ...Read Full Story

Police: Facebook Threats Were Unrelated

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Police don’t think incidents in South Haven and Covert involving teens making threats while posing as clowns on Facebook are related. Two teens were identified by police as having threatened others, but Covert Township Police Chief Jay Allen tells WSJM News they were separate incidents. The Covert threat was reported Saturday.. ...Read Full Story

Health Department Offering Flu Shots This Month

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It’s getting to be the time of year when you should be thinking about getting a flu shot. Gillian Conrad, with the Berrien County Health Department, tells WSJM News everyone six months old and up should get vaccinated. Although the nasal spray isn’t being recommended this year, she says it’s no big deal to get a shot.. ...Read Full Story

Man Completes Rowboat Trip Across Lake Michigan

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Jacob Beckley is safe in Chicago after a nearly 24 hour trip across Lake Michigan in a rowboat to raise money to fight childhood cancer. Beckley left St. Joseph Monday morning, followed by a spotter boat in case of trouble, and he made it to his destination early Tuesday. His goal was to raise $25,000 for Lurie Children’s Hospital, of Chicago, and as of Tuesday afternoon, he’d raised more than $18,000. Beckley originally meant to leave St. Joseph Sunday night, but fog forced him to reschedule for Monday. On his Row4ACure Facebook page, Beckley posted a message Tuesday morning saying he made it safely to shore, adding, “Right now I have no muscles.” He rowed about 65 miles during his trip across the lake. You can find out more at Row4ACure.com.. ...Read Full Story

Paralyzed Brothers Receive Custom Van Thanks To Donations

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A group of strangers touched by the story of two paralyzed brothers has given them a customized minivan. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that 26-year-old Matthew and 24-year-old Adam Chaffee, who were paralyzed in two separate accidents, received the $80,000 vehicle Monday from a Grand Rapids-area couple, a Grand Haven man and pastors in East Jordan. The group worked with Grand Rapids-based Clock Mobility, a company that specializes in handicapped-accessible vans, to create the vehicle for the brothers’ needs. Matt became a paraplegic after a November 2014 motorcycle crash. Adam was living with and taking care of his brother in Kalamazoo when he became injured in a lake accident in July 2015. He is now a quadriplegic. The brothers have also been the recipients of an online fundraising site that has paid for medical bills and some living expenses.. ...Read Full Story

Paul Clements Hoping To Ride Clinton’s Coattails To Win Over Upton

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The polls show Hillary Clinton with a solid lead against Donald Trump in Michigan, and there are candidates who hope that translates down the length of the ballot. One of those is Democratic congressional candidate Paul Clements, who is trying for a second straight election to unseat Congressman Fred Upton. He’s hoping the unpopularity of Trump at the top of the Republican ticket resonates in other races.. ...Read Full Story

School Districts Across Michigan Gear Up For Fall Count Day

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(AP) – School districts across Michigan are encouraging students to be in the classroom for Count Day. Wednesday is the first Count Day of the school year, with 90% of state funding at stake based on how many students attend classes. It’s particularly crucial for the state’s school districts with deficits and declining enrollments. A second Count Day is February 8.. ...Read Full Story

Credit Unions Becoming More Popular In Michigan

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Credit union membership in Michigan is continuing to rise,with it now at about 5 million, or roughly half the population. Philip Heinlen, CEO of Northwest Consumers Federal Credit Union, says people are bound to look for alternatives to big banks after headlines like the recent Wells Fargo scandal. Bank workers issued credit cards without customers’ consent to meet company sales goals.. ...Read Full Story

BH City Commission Opposing Sale Of 200 Paw Paw

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Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad is leading the charge as city commissioners oppose the possible sale of property at 200 Paw Paw Avenue. Monday night, the commission approved a resolution from Muhammad saying the property can’t be sold because it was acquired with federal grant money. Muhammad tells WSJM News authorization given to City Manager Darwin Watson by former Emergency Manager Tony Saunders to sell 200 Paw Paw without the city commission’s approval was wrong.. ...Read Full Story

Clown-Related Facebook Threat Rattles Covert Schools

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A 15-year-old from South Haven is in hot water after allegedly making threats to Covert Schools while posing as a clown on Facebook. On Monday, officers were sent to the district’s schools after the threat was discovered Saturday. They were able to determine it was not credible, and their suspect was found not long after. The case will be turned over to the prosecutor. Covert Schools Superintendent Bobbi Morehead tells us she decided to use Monday’s incident as a “teachable moment,” and have instructors talk with the kids about being responsible on the internet. Meanwhile, similar clown-related incidents have been reported in South Haven and Benton Harbor. City Manager Darwin Watson says you should report any funny business to the police.. ...Read Full Story