Local News Archives

The Van Buren District Library is planning a presentation on the history of Silver Beach this month. Education coordinator Kay McAdam tells WSJM News Silver Beach Carousel Society President Suz Schalon and Connie Yore, the curator for the Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum, will lead “The Way We Were,” a talk about past and current attractions at the St. Joseph beach. McAdam says she has fond memories of them.. ...Read Full Story

Senior citizens in Van Buren County are being invited to a meeting with Michigan State Police this week on how to avoid scams. Trooper Jacob Bailey will hold the meeting at the United Methodist Church in Gobles on Friday from 11 a.m. to noon. The Paw Paw Post says Bailey will give a presentation on current scams to watch out for and general information about fraud prevention. They add those in attendance are encouraged to ask questions about those topics or anything else crime-related.. ...Read Full Story

One of the two who survived being shot during the massacre in Kalamazoo in February 2016 carried out by an Uber driver is a finalist for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Citizen Honors Award. Tiana Carruthers is one of 20 finalists after being nominated by Congressman Fred Upton. She was shot several times while shielding her daughter and five other children when they were approached by Jason Dalton at the playground at their apartment complex near Kalamazoo. Upton says her courage that day “is simply remarkable, and by God’s grace, she survived, the children were not harmed, and now we can honor her as a nation for her unbelievable bravery.” Dalton went on to kill six people and wound a then-14-year-old girl at two other locations in the Kalamazoo area before he was caught. He pleaded guilty to all charges and is serving life in prison without parole. More than 110 people were nominated for the award this year, and the six winners will be announced on Thursday.. ...Read Full Story

The coronavirus continues to spread across the country, and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist says it’s just a matter of time before the virus arrives in Michigan. Gilchrist says even though there are no confirmed cases in the state so far, officials are preparing for a potential outbreak.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent Andrae Townsel is aware of a video that was posted to Facebook and had thousands of shares through the weekend of an incident at International Academy at Hull in which a first-grade student was bullied and beaten up by his classmates.. ...Read Full Story

A video has surfaced of an attack by several classmates on a first-grade student at Benton Harbor’s International Academy at Hull elementary school last week. Posted to Facebook, the video had been shared over 2,000 times as of Sunday night before it appears to have been either taken down or the settings changed where it’s no longer public. An adult, presumed to be the teacher, is heard on the recording saying “that’s what he gets.” The mother of the young boy who was hit, kicked, and shoved by his classmates tells WSJM News that she was not aware of the incident until it was posted on social media on Friday, and has spoken with Superintendent Andrae Townsel. She says Townsel has requested a meeting with her, and she plans to have her lawyer with her for that. Right now, we have not heard when that meeting will take place, and will have more information as we learn it. WSJM News has reached out to the superintendent’s office for comment.. ...Read Full Story

A Benton Harbor area church is planning to hold an egg drop event next month in St. Joseph Township. Overflow Church Pastor Brian Bennett tells WSJM News they’ll have a helicopter drop eggs on to the American Youth Soccer Organization fields on Maiden Lane on Saturday, April 11.. ...Read Full Story

The much-anticipated turnaround plan for Benton Harbor Area Schools being drafted by a state-proposed advisory committee will soon be released to the district’s board of education. At this past week’s school board meeting, Benton Harbor Area Schools Community Engagement and Advisory Committee liaison Denise Whatley-Seats told fellow trustees the committee’s recommendations will be presented to the full board on March 17. Superintendent Andrae Townsel told WSJM News he’s optimistic.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is promoting the 211 hotline this month. Analyst Jon Breems tells WSJM News 211, run by United Way organizations around the state, connects people with help when they’re struggling.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven will continue its Maritime Lecture Series this month with a presentation on a shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan in 2018. Museum Education Director Ashley Deming tells WSJM News the presentation will be on March 25.. ...Read Full Story

The state of Michigan is working to promote the Michigan Education Trust with events planned throughout the spring. MET Director Robin Lott tells WSJM News the trust is a way for parents to lock in today’s tuition rates for their kids so that when the kids go to college, they get a break.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation says two lanes of westbound I-94 in Berrien County were blocked from traffic on Saturday afternoon while firefighters put out a grass fire. The Lincoln Township Fire Department responded to the scene after the Grand Mere around 4 p.m. when a vehicle fire caused about a half mile of grass to ignite. The two lanes of traffic were back open by 5 p.m. Assisting at the scene were the Royalton Township Fire Department and the Lake Township Fire Department. The cause of the vehicle fire has not been released.. ...Read Full Story

Applications for the position of Berrien County Treasurer are now being taken as current Treasurer Bret Witkowski plans to step down next month. Berrien County Administration says a committee made up of Probate Judge Mabel Mayfield, Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler, and Prosecutor Michael Sepic has been authorized to fill the vacancy. The three will review the applications from those interested in serving for the remainder of Witkowski’s term, which ends on December 31. The committee is requesting candidates send in a county application, resume, and cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications by 4 p.m. on March 27. You can find the county application at BerrienCounty.org. The applications, resumes, and cover letters should be addressed to Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler, and sent to Courthouse, 811 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Witkowski announced this month he’s leaving Berrien County government after 20 years to take a job in the private sector. Those who wish to replace him should have a familiarity with real estate matters, property tax administration, financial investments, and accounting practices.. ...Read Full Story

The team name and mascot for Paw Paw High School could soon be changed after years of controversy. The team is currently called the Redskins, but some allege it’s offensive. Previous meetings to discuss dropping the name have resulted in no changes. However, WWMT reports Paw Paw Public Schools Superintendent Rick Reo is now recommending it finally happen. The board of education will consider changing the name on Monday. Reo says a meeting was held for people in the community for the matter to be discussed on Tuesday of this past week. The session was closed to reporters, but a person in attendance said a majority of those present appeared to be in favor of dropping the Redskins name and also the controversy.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Attorney General’s office has released its list of the top ten consumer complaints in 2019. Spokesperson Ryan Jarvi tells WSJM News number one was complaints about personal service providers, especially gyms. Jarvi says there was a newcomer on the top ten list in 2019.. ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College is planning to hold a special Census Day next month as it campaigns to educate students on the importance of filling out their U.S. Census forms. LMC political science instructor Tiffany Bohm tells WSJM News the census even has a direct impact on the college.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to be extra cautious going into the week with the time change. MDOT spokesperson Michael Frezell tells WSJM News everyone is losing an hour.. ...Read Full Story

The Benton Harbor City Clerk’s office will be open this weekend to accommodate voters ahead of next week’s primary election. Clerk Kimberly Thompson says staff will be at Benton Harbor City Hall this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help people vote absentee and also to do same day registrations. Anyone who wants to get either of those things done before Tuesday’s primary is welcome to stop by and do so. For those old school voters who still want to cast their ballot the old fashioned way, polling locations will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Local clerks and the Michigan Secretary of State are advising those who want to learn the results of the presidential primary not to hold their breath. It’s expected the results will not be known until the early morning of Wednesday due to the volume of absentee ballots that election staff will have to count.. ...Read Full Story

With Congressman Fred Upton seeking an 18th term in the U.S. House, he tells WSJM News he waited a bit longer than usual to announce his campaign this year. He says he wanted to make sure it would be right for loved ones.. ...Read Full Story

Two men are facing a variety of charges following an armed home invasion in Cass County this week. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says it was called just before midnight on Tuesday about the robbery in the 63,000 block of Day Lake Road in Calvin Township. Arriving deputies were told a 24-year-old woman had been home alone when three or four men broke in and demanded money. The men forced their way into a back bedroom where a dog had been shut up, and they shot the dog, killing it. The suspects then left in a silver Toyota Prius with an undisclosed amount of cash. Not long after, police got a call about some men getting out of a silver Prius and into a red Toyota Camry in a secluded area along Brownsville Road about four miles away. The Camry was later found parked in Cassopolis, and that’s where the two suspects were arrested. They’re a 19-year-old Columbus, Ohio man, and a 21-year-old Elkhart, Indiana man. They’re now charged with home invasion, armed robbery, killing or torturing an animal, larceny from a building, assault with a dangerous weapon, and felony firearm. The investigation into the armed robbery continues, and police ask anyone with information to contact them. The two suspects have been arraigned with bond set at $80,000.. ...Read Full Story

The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan is cancelling next week’s Speaker Series event. The Lake Michigan College Mendel Center was notified that former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was needing to cancel his appearance due to the unfolding global situation surrounding coronavirus and related travel advisories. In turn, the Pre-Speaker Dinner & Discussion event the same evening of Wednesday, March 18. The Mendel Center is working to reschedule as soon as possible, and Economic Club members and ticket holders will be notified when more information is available. There is nothing ticket holders need to do in the meantime. Turnbull was Australia’s 29th prime minister and served from 2015 to 2018.. ...Read Full Story

Southwest Michigan’s battered coastline is taking another hit. Waves on Lake Michigan are expected to build to as high as 15 to 17 feet from south of Holland down to the Indiana state line today. The National Weather Service says South Haven, St. Joseph, Saugatuck, and New Buffalo will be impacted, with more beach and dune erosion along the shore. Flooding is affecting parts of South Haven, and in Benton Harbor, MDOT has again closed Main Street at Riverview Drive in front of the Whirlpool Riverview campus due to flooding. The problem there is the high level of the St. Joseph River being above the drains on the side of the road.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has canceled a trip to Mississippi to campaign in Michigan. The Vermont senator was scheduled to speak Friday at Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, the home of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. But his campaign announced Thursday that Sanders will travel instead to Michigan, where he is scheduled to hold rallies Friday night and Sunday. Both Michigan and Mississippi hold primaries on Tuesday. Mississippi’s population is over one-third African American, a demographic that has heavily favored former Vice President Joe Biden, Sanders’ rival for the Democratic nomination. African Americans make up about 15% of Michigan’s population.. ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College has launched a campaign to convince people to take part in this year’s U.S. Census. LMC says students are using creative expression to demonstrate how important it is for everyone to be counted. In January, LMC received a $2,500 grant from the Berrien Community Foundation to partner in its Be Counted Berrien campaign, and it’s now raising awareness about why it’s important for every student to respond when they receive their census invitations later this month. LMC’s census campaign began with a poster contest, the two winners of which received prizes of $100. Graphic design major Jordyn Elsner created a poster titled “Counted in or Counted out,” while fellow graphic design student Katherine Gaytan created a poster called “Join the Count and Raise the Numbers.” LMC says it’s also going to host informational events and promote the census throughout its campuses and on social media. It’s partnering with the League of Women Voters for a census information session at Berrien RESA on March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Everyone’s invited.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is reminding everyone not only to change their clocks this Sunday for daylight saving time, but also to check their smoke detectors. Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News fire fatalities are up so far this year, and in 75% of the incidents, there were no working smoke detectors in the home. So how many do you need?. ...Read Full Story

A March Madness-style bracket competition is being held to find Michigan’s worst pothole. Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association VP of Government Affairs Lance Binoniemi tells WSJM News the Fix MI State campaign is seeking submissions for the contest.. ...Read Full Story

Some things are changing at Benton Harbor Area Schools. At this week’s meeting of the board of education, trustees heard from Superintendent Andrae Townsel he’ll have some facilities recommendations at a retreat with them later this month. One idea is to arrange things so students only have to go to three different buildings throughout their years in the district. They would be at an elementary school, a middle school, and then a high school. Townsel told us more.. ...Read Full Story

A 22-year-old Benton Harbor man is now charged with open murder in the shooting death of his 19-year-old girlfriend in November at the Blossom Acres housing project. Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic says bond for Marion Perry Jr. is set at $2 million, and he’s next due in court on March 13. Perry is accused of shooting Uniqua Jones and could face life in prison without parole if found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. Jones died at Spectrum Health Lakeland after being shot in the 200 block of Concord. Perry had been in state custody since December 10.. ...Read Full Story

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says Michigan’s election system is more secure than ever and is working to ease fears about hacking of ballot boxes and foreign interference in next week’s primary election and the November general election. Benson says all votes in the state are cast on paper ballots, and no machines are connected to the internet while polls are open, though some jurisdictions connect online after the count is done and a paper record is created to send in unofficial tallies.. ...Read Full Story

It’s now official – the city of South Haven will not have a Fourth of July fireworks show this year due to the elevation of Lake Michigan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects the lake to rise another eight to ten inches by early July. City Manager Brian Dissette says several options were considered for other locations for firing off the pyrotechnics, but with the pier being the best spot, they simply can’t safely do it.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Attorney General’s office has released its list of the top ten consumer complaints in 2019. Spokesperson Ryan Jarvi tells WSJM News number one was complaints about personal service providers, especially gyms. Jarvi says there was a newcomer on the top ten list in 2019.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler is seeking reelection. She announced on Wednesday she’s going for a third term after having first been elected clerk in 2012. Prior to that, Tyler served as the state representative for Michigan’s 78th District. Tyler says her “priority is to provide quality customer service that is accurate, timely, professional, and respects the individual and their privacy.” She adds that under her direction, the county clerk’s office has advanced its technology to better meet the needs of residents, and notes she’s is not only the chief elections official in Berrien County, but also the clerk to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, clerk of the Berrien County Circuit Court, and the registrar of vital statistics. Before she was elected as a state representative in 2009, Tyler also served as a trustee for Lincoln Township as an interim city manager for Niles.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven will continue its Maritime Lecture Series this month with a presentation on a shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan in 2018. Museum Education Director Ashley Deming tells WSJM News the presentation will be on March 25.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is urging everyone to get the flu vaccine. He tells WSJM News it won’t help you avoid the coronavirus…. ...Read Full Story

With concerns growing about the spread of coronavirus, leaders at Benton Harbor Area Schools are working to be prepared. Superintendent Andrae Townsel tells WSJM News he’s been in talks with other districts in Berrien County and the state as a letter is drafted to both staff and parents.. ...Read Full Story

Fresh off several Super Tuesday wins, former Vice President Joe Biden has landed a new endorsement. Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said on CNN she’s backing his bid for the Democratic nomination.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is promoting the 211 hotline this month. Analyst Jon Breems tells WSJM News 211, run by United Way organizations around the state, connects people with help when they’re struggling.. ...Read Full Story

Former St. Joseph High School Boys and Girls Club site leader Chris Glisson is facing up to a decade in prison if found guilty of a charge of assault by strangulation for an incident at the school February 20. Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic announced the charges against Glisson Wednesday afternoon, with bond set at $5,000. Sepic says witness interviews and video evidence indicate Glisson attacked 18-year-old Steven Meridy Jr. during a confrontation, putting his hands around the student’s throat. Meridy had dated one of Glisson’s daughters and the two had recently split. The 51-year-old Glisson also previously made an attempt at owning a semi-pro basketball team, the Lake Michigan Admirals, in the St. Joseph area.. ...Read Full Story

A federal judge has invalidated Michigan’s Medicaid work requirements, weeks after a U.S. appeals court affirmed his decision to strike down similar rules elsewhere. The short order came from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C. today. He earlier invalidated Arkansas’ requirement that low-income people work for government-provided health insurance, dealing a blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to remake Medicaid. Four Michigan residents sued the federal government in November, with assistance from advocacy groups. Governor Whitmer’s administration asked for a quick ruling, saying there was no dispute that Michigan’s requirements are illegal, too.. ...Read Full Story

A two-foot concrete wall will be installed in New Buffalo to protect a stretch of Whittaker Street from flooding. Parks Director Kristen D’Amico tells our partners at WSBT-22 that the flooding has been an issue and is impacting an important part of the city.. ...Read Full Story

After years of debate, attitudes appear to be changing in Paw Paw regarding the use of the Redskins mascot for the high school. Paw Paw Public Schools superintendent Rick Reo is recommending the retirement of the mascot and logo at the end of this school year, with action expected Monday by the school board. He held a meeting on it Tuesday night.. ...Read Full Story

Porch pirates are on the loose in Buchanan. Michigan State Police say several packages were stolen from a home by two people on February 27. Surveillance photos from a camera on the porch captured the theft as a man and a woman took the packages shortly before 6 p.m. that day. Troopers have not released the address where it happened. We have a photo of the suspects on our website, the WSJM app, and the Town Crier Wire. Anyone with tips is asked to call the Niles Post of the Michigan State Police.. ...Read Full Story

The job of Berrien County Treasurer is officially open, as the county’s Treasurer Appointment Committee is now taking applications. Bret Witkowski is stepping down from the elected post this spring to take a job in the private sector with Abonmarche. The county board recently established the Committee of Probate Judge Mabel Mayfield, County Clerk Sharon Tyler and Prosecuting Attorney Michael Sepic to fill the vacancy. The appointment would be for the rest of Witkowski’s current term that ends on December 31, 2020, and whoever is selected would be eligible to run for the office this fall. The county is looking for someone with experience managing a staff, managing and setting up a budget, familiarity with real estate matters and property tax administration, and standard accounting practices among other qualifications. Applications, resumes and cover letters should be sent to County Clerk Sharon Tyler by 4 p.m. on March 27.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police have issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for an 85-year-old man last seen leaving Spectrum Health Lakeland hospital in St. Joseph. Peter Gagliardo left the hospital at 7:30 pm Tuesday to drive home to Dowagiac, but never arrived. He is white, 5’7″, 160 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a sweatshirt, blue jeans and brown boots when he was last seen. Gagliardo was driving a 2018 black Ford Escape with the Michigan license plate 7J2-050. Police have no other information about him, but ask if anyone knows where he is to call 9-1-1.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Paintings created by a former Western Michigan University art professor that would have been thrown away, are now on display at the school’s Richmond Center for Visual Arts.WOOD-TV says 40 of Dwayne Lowder’s paintings were donated to the university and will be part of an exhibition that presents nearly 50 years of his work. The exhibit mostly is a display of
paintings, but it also showcases Lowder’s sculptures, photography and work in stained glass. Lowder was a member of the WMU faculty from 1966 to 1982. He died in 2018.. ...Read Full Story

The much-anticipated turnaround plan for Benton Harbor Area Schools being drafted by a state-proposed advisory committee will soon be released to the district’s board of education. At this week’s school board meeting, Benton Harbor Area Schools Community Engagement and Advisory Committee liaison Denise Whatley-Seats told fellow trustees the committee’s recommendations will be presented to the full board on March 17. Superintendent Andrae Townsel told WSJM News he’s optimistic.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is among 14 members of the U.S. House Problem Solvers caucus who met with Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday to get a coronavirus briefing. Upton tells WSJM News Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Debbie Birx was on hand to answer questions.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — It’s not too late: Voters who used an absentee ballot for Michigan’s March 10 presidential primary election can change their preference and vote again. At least 10 Democratic candidates and two Republicans have dropped out of the race since Michigan absentee ballots were printed. They include Pete Buttigieg, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, and Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Absentee voting in Michigan is up substantially now that voters can cast an absentee ballot for any reason. Voters should contact their local clerk or go to the secretary of state website for more information.. ...Read Full Story

The state of Michigan is working to promote the Michigan Education Trust with an event in Grandville this week. MET Director Robin Lott tells WSJM News the trust is a way for parents to lock in today’s tuition rates for their kids so that when the kids go to college, they get a break.. ...Read Full Story

A Benton Harbor area church is planning to hold an egg drop event next month in St. Joseph Township. Overflow Church Pastor Brian Bennett tells WSJM News they’ll have a helicopter drop eggs on to the American Youth Soccer Organization fields on Maiden Lane on Saturday, April 11.. ...Read Full Story

State Representative Pauline Wendzel is seeking reelection. She has represented Michigan’s 79th House District since January of 2019 after being elected the previous November. Wendzel, a Republican, says she views it as her job to put the interests of southwest Michigan first. She adds the focus of her second term will be on continuing criminal justice reforms, improving K-12 education, increasing access to childhood mental healthcare, and working with small business owners to keep the economy growing. Wendzel, who is from Coloma, currently serves as the vice chair of the House Energy Committee as well as the House Commerce and Tourism Committee. She also serves on the House Regulatory Reform Committee and Agriculture Committee.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is reaching out to anyone who has received piercings at a Niles business to let them know they may have been exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Health Officer Nicki Britten tells WSJM News Paparazzi Tattoo & Body Piercing may have exposed former customers to the blood of other customers.. ...Read Full Story

Mim’s Furniture near Bangor in Arlington Township has been destroyed by fire for a second time. Firefighters from six Van Buren County departments spent several hours battling the flames and the smoke at the store on M-43, and were called out at 11:30 p.m. Monday. Bangor Fire Chief Derek Babcock says they’re asking the Michigan State Fire Marshal to investigate what sparked the fire. The business was gutted by a similar blaze on December 31, 2018. There’s no word on any injuries from the fire.. ...Read Full Story

There are still some lingering questions in the city of Benton Harbor over the arrest on December 28 of Michael Thompson by public safety officer Drew Wagner. Thompson’s family contends excessive force was used and went public with those accusations last month. City Manager Ellis Mitchell responded last night to concerns raised during public comment of the city commission meeting.. ...Read Full Story

The Fourth of July fireworks in South Haven might get washed away this year because of how high Lake Michigan is now and how much it’s expected to rise this summer. At last night’s city council meeting, City Manager Brian Dissette says last year, the decision to go ahead with the Fourth of July fireworks happened just days before the holiday due to the water level of Lake Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton’s Problem Solvers Caucus wants action quickly on Capitol Hill on the federal government’s response to coronavirus.. ...Read Full Story

The city of South Haven is partnering with the South Haven Tribune and Van Buren Reminder to cut down on litter on city streets and sidewalks. The city has now created an “opt-out” list for the publications, ensuring those who don’t want the subscription don’t get it. City Clerk Travis Sullivan says the list will be put together through requests from property owners through the end of this month.. ...Read Full Story

If you’ve already voted absentee in Michigan, but want to change your vote since more candidates have dropped out of the race for President for the Democrats, can you change your vote? Yes, you can spoil your first ballot, according to Jake Rollow, who is the communications director for the Secretary of State.. ...Read Full Story