Local News Archives

The state’s Senior Citizen of the Year award belongs to 76-year-old Bob Cooley of St. Joseph. He was honored last week on the lawn of the state Capitol during Older Michiganians Day by the state’s Aging and Adult Services Agency, the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging, and Consumers Energy. Cooley received a letter of congratulations from Governor Whitmer and a $1,000 check from Consumers Energy. He has been volunteering at the Marie Yeager Cancer Center since it opened in 2011 and was one of the first to sign u when Spectrum Health Lakeland put out the word of the need for people to help the nursing staff and greet patients at the information desk in the infusion center. Cooley takes three shifts a week and often fills in for others. He also volunteers at a soup kitchen, helps the Lions Club to set up an annual car show, mows public parks, and has researched and created directories to help people find their family members’ burial locations at cemeteries in Berrien County. He was nominated by Spectrum Health Lakeland’s volunteer coordinator for the award.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Public Schools superintendent Ann Cardon is the unanimous choice by the Traverse City Area Public Schools’ board to take the helm of their district. The board voted 7-0 Monday night to bring her in for the final step in the process, a “fit the district” tour on May 29. A total of 24 candidates applied for the Traverse City job, and she is the last one standing. Cardon has been superintendent of St. Joseph Public Schools since being selected to succeed Al Skibbe upon his retirement in 2012. She holds an Education Specialist degree from Grand Valley State University and has 10 years of experience as a superintendent. Cardon also has an additional 14 years of experience as a central office administrator, principal and teacher.. ...Read Full Story

An effort to clean up tires around the city of Benton Harbor made a splash last week. At Monday’s city commission meeting, Benton Harbor Director of Public Safety Dan McGinnis said the Friday event at Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park resulted in a lot of tires being dropped off.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert is starting a ballot drive as a “failsafe” in case Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature and Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer don’t enact legislation to cut the country’s highest auto insurance premiums.
Quicken Loans vice president of government affairs Jared Fleisher said Monday that a ballot committee, Citizens for Lower Auto Insurance Rates, will be created this week. If Gilbert’s group gathers enough voter signatures, the Legislature could approve the initiative and sidestep a veto. The House and Senate have passed differing bills that Whitmer has criticized, though negotiations are ongoing. Fleisher says it’d be best if legislators and Whitmer enact a law to reduce rates by letting people opt out of mandatory unlimited medical benefits. But he
says signature-gathering must begin soon as a backup.. ...Read Full Story

There will be a party this weekend at the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi campus in Dowagiac. Tribal council member Andy Jackson tells WSJM News they’re holding their tenth annual Memorial Day weekend pow wow. It’s smaller than the Labor Day pow pow, where the dancing is competitive. Jackson says this weekend gives the young and old a chance to learn traditional dancing.. ...Read Full Story

State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan says the budget process this year is going a little slower than usual. She tells WSJM News the Michigan Senate is ahead of the House on putting together next year’s spending plan. The reason things are dragging? Roads.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising drivers the US-31 exit to Niles-Buchanan Road in Berrien County will be closing this week. MDOT says the ramp will be shut down this Thursday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for some repaving work. During the closure, drivers will be detoured to exit 7 at Walton Road. You can stay on top of all MDOT construction and maintenance projects at Michigan.gov/Drive.. ...Read Full Story

Dementia has significant impacts on the lives of families, employers, taxpayers and those living with the disease.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Justin Amash, who represents the Grand Rapids area, has competition for his seat from within his own Republican Party for 2020. State Representative Jim Lower  of Greenville pushed up his announcement when Amash called for President Donald Trump’s impeachment over the weekend on Twitter.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan’s highest gas prices are here in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The latest figures from AAA Michigan put the average locally at $2.92, with a statewide average of $2.87, which is up 7¢ from last week. The statewide average is lower than last year at this time, which was an even $3. The lowest prices are up north, with both Traverse City and Marquette posting averages of $2.84. As for South Haven, not included in the AAA report, GasBuddy has an average of $2.78.. ...Read Full Story