Stevensville and Baroda area businesses are looking forward to a busy 2019 following this month’s annual meeting of the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Ashlie Guyberson tells WSJM News the Business of the Year was Coaches Bar and Grill.. ...Read Full Story
Warm weather followed by freezing temperatures along with snow and ice are the breeding grounds for road potholes. That’s according to the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Mark Schirripa.. ...Read Full Story
A one-year contract extension and a 2% raise will be going to Berrien County Administrator Bill Wolf following his annual performance evaluation by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners. Personnel Committee Chair Bill Chickering said at this week’s meeting Wolf was given a score of 3.7 out of 5 when rated by the 12 commissioners in several different categories.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Health Department is receiving a state grant of $250,000 to pay for the water filters it’s giving out to residents of Benton Harbor. Following the discovery of elevated lead levels in some homes last year, health department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the filters for lead are now available to all city residents for free. The grant program was made available by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services following the Flint water crisis.. ...Read Full Story
The Environmental Protection Agency has released its PFAS Action Plan, and Senator Gary Peters says it doesn’t go nearly far enough. Peters tells WSJM News the plan announced on Thursday falls far short of what’s needed.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is criticizing a Detroit TV station’s decision to broadcast a segment and publish an online story that features people’s unflattering and sexist comments on social media about her dress and body during the State of the State speech. Whitmer tweeted Thursday that the story “was way out of line,” before adding “I’m tough, I can take it.” Fox 2 (WJBK-TV) aired the story Wednesday night about reaction to Whitmer’s blue dress. The Democrat says boys have teased her “about my curves” since fifth grade. She says at a time when women are leading, she hopes people “focus on our ideas and accomplishments instead of our appearance.” The station is defending the story. News director Kevin Roseborough says the station was “taken aback” by the number and nature of many inappropriate Facebook comments on Whitmer’s appearance during the speech and decided to “examine them through person-on-the-street interviews and an expert’s opinion on the double standard faced by female leaders.”. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Road Department is applying a new strategy when it comes to road maintenance and repairs. Director Jason Latham tells WSJM News they’ve developed an asset management plan as the department works toward getting more of the county’s 1,500 miles of road in better shape.. ...Read Full Story
Leaders at Benton Harbor Area Schools are seeking to switch out some contracts to reduce costs. At this week’s CEO meeting, the district CFO said bids are being put out for both transportation and food services. Currently, the district contracts with First Student for buses. With the transportation costs around $1.4 million per year, the district will seek bids this month to see what comes in. It’s doing the same for food service, which is currently provided by Sudexo. It was also noted this wek the district currently has about $500,000 in excess food funds in the budget, and that will be put into equipment upgrades for the kitchen. Finally, CEO Robert Herrera said the contract with Berrien RESA for a technology director was terminated last month. The district has now moved that position in-house.. ...Read Full Story
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will not see changes anytime soon. In a rare move, the Republican-led Michigan Senate has rejected Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order to restructure the DEQ, the first time lawmakers have outright blocked a governor’s move in more than 40 years since the Milliken administration.. ...Read Full Story
Advocate volunteers are needed by the Sexual Assault Response Team of Berrien County. Alyssa Pliml, a registered nurse with the program, tells WSJM News the team works with the survivors of sexual assault, and those who serve as advocate volunteers provide them support.. ...Read Full Story
