Local News Archives

Adopt A Highway Cleanup This Weekend

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Starting this Saturday will be the final Adopt a Highway cleanup of Michigan roads for the year. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Dan Weingarten tells WSJM News there are more than 2,800 volunteer groups who pick up trash along stretches of road three times a year.. ...Read Full Story

Flavored Vaping Ban Takes Effect

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s ban on flavored vaping products is now in effect. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says her emergency rules banning those flavored nicotine vaping products were released Wednesday. The ban was developed in response to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services finding of a public health emergency. As of Wednesday, stores around the state have two weeks to get flavored vaping products off their shelves. The ban is effective for 180 days and can be extended for six months. You can find out more at Michigan.gov/E-Cigarettes.. ...Read Full Story

Striking Workers Question Integrity Of UAW Leaders

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From the Associated Press — The strike against General Motors by the United Auto Workers is playing out amid a corruption scandal inside the UAW that has caused distrust of the union leadership among many rank-and-file members. On picket lines at plants across the country, many of the 49,000 workers have expressed doubts about whether leaders are acting in their best interests. Some have gone so far as to wonder whether the leadership took them out on strike to show that the union is working for them. Last month, the FBI raided the suburban Detroit home of the UAW president. He has not been charged. Earlier this month, a union official in Missouri was charged in a $600,000 embezzlement scheme, and another leader pleaded guilty to taking kickbacks. The UAW, in its defense, says union members authorized the walkout.. ...Read Full Story

Land Auction Pulls In $288,000

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The fall Berrien County land auction has been held, netting more than $288,000 for the county’s foreclosure fund. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News 112 of 120 properties were sold Tuesday. That money goes into the foreclosure fund to take care of other foreclosed properties.. ...Read Full Story

LaSata Announces Veteran of The Year Contest

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State Senator Kim LaSata is holding a Veteran of the Year contest. She says southwest Michigan is blessed with a large community of veterans, and she wants to recognize them for their service. Anyone who wishes to nominate a veteran should include their name and contact information, the veteran’s name, his or her military branch and era of service, and a description of why the veteran deserves the award. The submissions will be taken through October 4, and they can be made online. You an also make submissions via email at SenKLaSata@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-6960. The Veteran of the Year will be announced on Veterans Day, November 11.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor School Board President Dies

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Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education President Stephen Mitchell has died. Board Vice President Joseph Taylor issued a statement Tuesday, saying the board, the district, and the community “are forever grateful for President Mitchell’s leadership and his many years of service with Benton Harbor Area Schools.” He adds, “We are heartbroken and our prayers are with the Mitchell family.” The school district has not released a cause of death, but The Herald Palladium reports Mitchell suddenly fell ill. He was 71. An afternoon meeting of the school board that had been scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled.. ...Read Full Story

Whitmer To Lawmakers: Send Me Budget Bills This Week

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From the Associated Press — Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is urging Republican legislative leaders to send her budget bills this week, so she has time to review and sign them before a September 30 deadline. Whitmer wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield Tuesday. She said they should pass spending measures before a GOP “getaway” on Mackinac Island starting Friday. Republicans have begun advancing their proposed budget without a deal with Whitmer, after the sides agreed to table talks on a road-funding plan. She said budgets should ideally be presented to her two weeks before the end
of the fiscal year. Shirkey counters that Whitmer will know all the details Thursday – when more committees vote – but senators will wait until next Tuesday to take final action.. ...Read Full Story

Chris Heugel Leaving Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber To Return To Hospitality Industry

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Chris Heugel’s exit as president of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is due to his return to the hospitality industry. Heugel tells our Pat Moody he’s taken a job with Aimbridge Hospitality, which is North America’s third-largest hotel management company. His submitted his resignation on September 9, it was accepted by the Board of Directors today, with Heugel’s last day at the Chamber set for Friday. Board vice chairman Greg Parrett has been named the interim president by the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and they are now conducting a search for a permanent successor. Heugel will remain on the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, as he won’t have to move out of the area with his new position. You can read the full story on Moody On The Market here.. ...Read Full Story

Man Arrested For Flagship True North Fish Market Break-In In Benton Harbor

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A 25-year-old man is jailed for allegedly breaking into the Flagship True North Fish Market in Benton Harbor early Tuesday morning. Officers responded to the alarm just after 4 a.m. and found the suspect nearby. He was arrested on unrelated warrants, and investigators determined he was their suspect during questioning. His name is being withheld until his arraignment. The business will be open during normal hours, despite the break-in.. ...Read Full Story

State Employees Notified Of Possible Layoffs

Notification has gone out to around 48,000 people who are state employees in Michigan warning them of a possible temporary layoff starting October 1 if a new budget isn’t in place. Republicans in the House and Senate are working to move their own budget bills after talks with Governor Whitmer broke down last week. If there is a shutdown, which both sides say they’re trying to avoid, several things would be closed right away like state parks.. ...Read Full Story

More Than 30 State Parks Holding Fall Festival

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From the Associated Press — More than 30 of Michigan’s state parks are hosting fall harvest festivals this year. They feature activities such as hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume contests, haunted trails, nature programs and horse-drawn carriage
rides. Leelanau and Tawas Point state parks are even offering a “haunted lighthouse” tours. The events are scheduled for September and October. The state Department of Natural Resources has a full listing online. Activities in state park campgrounds typically are open only to registered campers. The DNR says it’s advisable to reserve camping spots early. Reservations can be booked online or at 800-44-PARKS. You can find out more right here.. ...Read Full Story

Commission Approves Moratorium On Billboards

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Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved a six month moratorium on new billboards. At a Monday meeting, Mayor Marcus Muhammad read from the resolution stating the ban on new off-premises advertisements is to be in effect while a review is conducted. It said the city “intends to conduct a review of its various sign ordinances to ensure the furtherance of the city’s master plan and to address the city’s concerns of visual blight, traffic, health, safety, and welfare issues that have emerged with regulated and unregulated off-premises advertisement signs/billboards or similar structures and certain off-premises signs.” The city attorney said the moratorium would ban new billboards for six months, and could be extended up to a year. The action to approve the moratorium came just before commissioners went into closed session to hear an update on Adams Outdoor Advertising’s lawsuit against the city over its proposed digital billboard on Main Street. However, commissioners came out of the closed session on that matter and took no further action.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Finalizes Lease Deal With County To Clear Way For DNR Grant

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Berrien County is set to move forward with making improvements to the waterways in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. The St. Joseph City Commission gave final approval to a long-term lease agreement with the county for two access points on land owned by the city. Berrien County Community Development director Dan Fette explained to the city that the state Department of Natural Resources required the county to either own the property that will be improved or have an interest in it, prompting the 20-year lease.. ...Read Full Story

Sources: Heugel Out As Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President

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There is no official word as yet, but sources confirm to WSJM News that there is a change coming at the top of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. The board of directors plans to issue a statement after this morning’s board meeting, but we’ve learned Chris Heugel is out as Chamber president. He had been at the helm since August 2015 of what had been previously known as the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce before the organization changed its name in recent months, helping to avoid confusion with the economic development outfit, Cornerstone Alliance. Prior to that hire, he was the general manager of The Boulevard Inn & Bistro in St. Joseph for just over seven and a half years. The reason for the split between Heugel and the Chamber is not yet known.. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University Change Day Next Week

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Around 800 students and faculty members from Andrews University are set to be out and about around southwest Michigan volunteering for non-profits next week. That’s because the third annual Change Day is Tuesday. Change Day coordinator Teela Ruehle tells WSJM News Andrews cancels classes for the day so as many students as possible can take part.. ...Read Full Story

Road Association Gives Fall Color Preview

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The fall color season is about to start in Michigan. County Road Association of Michigan spokesperson Dustin Earley tells WSJM News people from outside of the state come here just to check out the fall colors. The prime season starts in the U.P. around this Friday, and will work its way down through the state.. ...Read Full Story

State Notifies Employees Of Potential For Layoffs

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s 48,000 state government workers have been notified of potential temporary layoffs in case the next budget is not enacted before October 1. Budget director Chris Kolb and department directors emailed employees Monday.
About 30,000, or 62%, of state workers would be temporarily laid off. The rest would be deemed as essential to protecting the health and safety of residents and continue working. They include prison guards, state troopers, child protective services caseworkers and others. The Republican-led Legislature has started approving spending bills, though there is no deal with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.. ...Read Full Story

River Valley Cancels Rest Of Varsity Football Season

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The rest of the varsity football season at River Valley High School has been cancelled. River Valley School District Superintendent William Kearney says the team was left with too few players to complete the season after the coach cut three due to a disciplinary issue. Kearney says the three were the ringleaders of a boycott of practice last week. He doesn’t know why they started the boycott. The other players who took part have been suspended. Kearney says the three who were cut, along with one injury, meant the rest of the season was over. He says the school is now putting together a JV team and has scheduled some games for it. That JV team will play for homecoming, which is still set for October 18 versus White Cloud. Kearney says he supports the decision of the coach, adding that high standards must be maintained for the players. He says things will hopefully return to normal next year.. ...Read Full Story

Bangor Woman Sentenced For Attempted Murder

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A 26-year-old Bangor woman is headed to prison for a stabbing attack on a man in Grand Junction in December. Niki Leigh Murphy was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to assault with intent to commit murder. The victim survived the incident on Decemeber 14 of last year. Murphy was arrested several hours after the stabbing at a home in Breedsville, and has been in custody ever since. She was sentenced on Monday in 36th Circuit Court in Van Buren County.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Township Man Facing Attempted Murder Charge For Monday Shooting

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A Benton Township man is facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting his girlfriend in front of a home in the 13-hundred block of Agard early Monday morning. Police were called to the Sunny Spot gas station on Pipestone in Benton Harbor shortly after 1 a.m. when Ashley Rockett showed up there with a gunshot wound to her upper right arm. Officers found the boyfriend, Dewayne Osler, and arrested him without incident on the charge of attempted murder along with carrying a concealed weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.. ...Read Full Story

No Deal: Auto Workers Strike Against GM In Contract Dispute

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More than 49,000 members of the United Auto Workers union went on strike early Monday as contract talks with General Motors broke down. Union members walked out of factories and set up picket lines at 33 plants across the nation as well as 22 parts warehouses. UAW Vice President Terry Dittes says a strike is the union’s last resort because both sides are far apart in bargaining over a new four-year contract, including on issues like health care and fair wages.. ...Read Full Story

Cass County K9 Faust Catches Stolen Car Suspect

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The Cass County Sheriff’s Department K9 Faust has caught a man who is accused of crashing a car that may have been stolen in Berrien County. The 59-year-old Niles man was found by Faust while trying to hide in the middle of a large cornfield in Howard Township following a crash just after 7:30 Sunday evening. Witnesses to the wreck told officers the man was seen running away into the field. After he was caught, he was taken to Lakeland Hospital in Niles to be treated for injuries before being booked into the Cass County Jail for an outstanding warrant. Charges related to the crash are pending.. ...Read Full Story

Work Requirements Coming For Healthy Michigan Program

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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is notifying those who receive healthcare through the Healthy Michigan program that work requirements are going to kick in on January 1. Spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells WSJM News because of a change in law, those who are enrolled in Healthy Michigan will be required to report at least 80 hours of work per month to continue receiving benefits. It’s a policy inherited by the Whitmer administration.. ...Read Full Story

Creek Cleaned Up By Volunteers

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A cleanup event along Ox Creek in the Benton Harbor area late last month attracted 29 volunteers from several organizations. Southwest Michigan Planning Commission senior planner Marcy Hamilton tells us local Rotary clubs, the Two Rivers Coalition, and the planning commission collected trash. How much of a difference did they make?. ...Read Full Story

Annual Health Department Report Now Online

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The Berrien County Health Department has released its report for 2018. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the department gave its report to the Berrien County Board of Health earlier this month. She says some people might not realize how many things the county health department does around the community in a given year.. ...Read Full Story

Police Investigate Thefts From Vehicles In Van Buren County

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Several thefts from parked vehicles are under investigation in Van Buren County. The sheriff’s department says the thefts occurred in the village of Bloomingdale in the early morning hours of Friday. In all, eight vehicles in the north end of the village were entered. They were unlocked, and police say valuables were taken from them. So far, police have identified no suspects. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department reminds all residents to lock their vehicles. Anyone with information on the thefts is asked to contact police.. ...Read Full Story

Two Dead In Lake Township Crash

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Two people are dead following a Saturday crash in Lake Township. The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department says the crash happened at Jericho Road and Linco Road around 12:45 p.m.  It was between a 2011 Chevy Silverado that had been westbound on Linco Road and a 2010 Ford Fusion that had been southbound on Jericho. The driver of the Silverado, a 21-year-old man from Stevensville, was not hurt. The driver of the Fusion was a 59-year-old man, and his passenger was a 70 year old woman from Rochester, Indiana. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not said what caused the crash, and the names have not yet been released. The crash remains under investigation with assistance from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.. ...Read Full Story

Recycling Event Set For September 21

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The Berrien County Parks Department will hold a community recycling event this month at Silver Beach. It says now is the time to clean out your garage and basement, and also take a look at what’s under your sink. The county will take unwanted household chemicals and electronics at the September 21 event. Items that get dropped off will be disposed of and recycled responsibly. They’ll take yard and garden chemicals, used oil, old gasoline, unused medication, medical needles and sharps, spent batteries, spray cans, oil-based paint, and electronics. TVs come with a $20 fee and computer monitors will be $10. Latex paint will not be accepted, but you can drop that off at Ace Hardware in St. Joseph and Stevensville for a small fee. The community recycling event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Silver Beach County Park on September 21. You can find out more right here.. ...Read Full Story

Growing Popularity For SJ Senior Center

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The St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Center is seeing increased attendance as word of mouth gets around and the county’s population ages. The center’s board president, Rick Freridge, gave some numbers to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners this month. He said about 260 individuals use the center on Lincoln Avenue each day, with attendance going up by about 17 to 19% each year. Freridge told WSJM News that new software, installed after the county asked for attendance numbers, has enabled the tracking.. ...Read Full Story

Near Record Water Level In Lake Michigan In August

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Lake Michigan did not break its all-time high water level record in August, but it was very high when compared to average. That’s according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which recently released its Great Lakes water level report for the month. Forecaster Deanna Apps tells WSJM News Lake Superior tied its record high for the month while Lakes Michigan and Huron were about three inches below their record highs. She says the water levels have been trending up for a few years.. ...Read Full Story

M-139 Work Getting Underway

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Drivers should note the Michigan Department of Transportation is doing some work on M-139 in Benton Township. It starts Monday and will continue for the rest of the month. MDOT says it’s doing concrete patching between I-94 and Napier Avenue. Anyone who’s driven that stretch of road knows it certainly needs something. Those who commute through the area are advised to give themselves just a little extra time due to lane closures that are coming with the work. You can stay on top of all MDOT construction projects at Michigan.gov/Drive.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Declares Sunday “Hunting And Fishing Day”

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This Sunday is Hunting and Fishing Day in Michigan, thanks to a proclamation from Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She says declaring the day is a way to draw attention to an industry that generates $11 billion each year in Michigan and supports more than 171,000 jobs. Whitmer says the state has a rich tradition of hunting and fishing. Her proclamation also notes Michigan’s sportsmen and women were among the first conservationists to support the establishment of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitat. You can read the governor’s proclamation right here. . ...Read Full Story

Attorney General Intervenes In I&M Power Plan

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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is intervening in an Indiana Michigan Power filing with the Michigan Public Service Commission to determine if the utility is following an energy plan that will protect the state’s natural resources. Her office says Nessel on Thursday intervened in I&M’s Integrated Resource Plan, currently under review by the MPSC. I&M’s Integrated Resource Plan details the five, ten, and 15 year projections for its energy needs and how it plans to meet them. I&M is required to review its current generation, forecast its future energy needs, and outline what power plants might retire and how it will make up that lost energy supply. Nessel says she intends to “review every detail of I&M’s IRP application and engage other environmental and consumer advocacy partners to ensure affordable, reliable and renewable energy products are the company’s top priority.”. ...Read Full Story

LMC College Night To Feature More Than 50 Representatives

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Just in time for the fall is Lake Michigan College’s annual College Night, set for September 23. LMC Admissions and Recruitment Director Jeremy Schaeffer tells WSJM News it’s a chance for students interested in pursuing post-secondary education to meet directly with representatives of more than 50 institutions in the region. Schaeffer says hundreds of people come out for the event.. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University Planning Third “Change Day”

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Andrews University is gearing up for its next Change Day, when students and staff will fan out across the community to make a difference. The university says the big day is September 24, and its teams will collaborate at about 70 sites around the community to spruce things up. The first Andrews University Change Day was in 2017, and the second was last year. On those days, Andrews cancelled classes so its volunteers could do things ranging from painting a mural in a school to cleaning beach areas and parks to offering hundreds of high school students information about career choices. Locations last year included the Therapeutics Riding Center, the Area Agency on Aging, and Habitat for Humanity. Andrews says the students who take part learn valuable lessons about how just a little effort can make a big difference to others. You can find out more about Change Day at Andrews.edu/ChangeHub.. ...Read Full Story

Naloxone Being Given Away Statewide Saturday

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The fight against opioid overdose deaths continues Saturday with the statewide distribution of almost 52,000 Naloxone kits. That is the medicine used to reverse an opioid overdose. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has sent out the medication to more than 1,000 pharmacies, which will give it away for free and without a prescription all day. Twenty-three pharmacies in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties will have Naloxone available as part of the effort. In 2017, the last full year for which stats are available, state health officials say Michigan had 2,053 opioid overdose deaths. Here is the link to a map with all the participating pharmacies.. ...Read Full Story

Cass County K-9 Finds Missing Man

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The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says a Cassopolis man is safely back home after being missing for several hours on Thursday. Deputies were called to the 26-thousand block of M-60 in Jefferson Township shortly before 9 p.m. by the caretaker for 70-year-old Michael Cox, who had gone on a walk and hadn’t returned. The caretaker was concerned due to incoming storms and Cox’s medical issues, noting he’d been missing since 6 p.m. Almost 5 hours after he had last been seen, Deputy Graves and K-9 Nellie found him in a swamp behind his home. Cox was cleared by Life Care Ambulance medics.. ...Read Full Story

Lawton Man Dies From Crash Injuries

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Injuries from a crash on Wednesday in Van Buren County have claimed the life of a 60-year-old Lawton man. The sheriff’s department says he was not wearing a seat belt when a Paw Paw woman ran a stop sign at the intersection of 64th Avenue and 30th Street in Antwerp Township and hit his SUV, causing it to flip. His passenger was not hurt. The driver who hit his vehicle spun into a tree, but she was buckled in and deputies did not say if she was hurt. The man died yesterday at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Police are still investigating the crash.. ...Read Full Story

Cook Plant Conducting Siren Tests This Month

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Indiana Michigan Power says it will be testing the emergency sirens near the Cook nuclear power plant starting this month. The tests will begin the week of September 16 and continue through the week of September 30. The 70 sirens within a ten mile radius of the plant in Bridgman will be sounded by the Berrien County Emergency Management Department. Each siren will be activated three to four times for about 30 seconds to obtain readings and make adjustments to ensure proper coverage and reliability. Maintenance will also be performed. In order to avoid confusion, the tests will not be done if there is severe weather. The Cook plant notes in the event of an actual emergency, the early warning sirens are all sounded continuously for three minutes. The testing is expected to take place in different locations Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the three-week period.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien Officials Honored For Crisis Intervention Support

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Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey and 911 Director Dave Agens have been honored by the Riverwood Center for their efforts to help ensure those experiencing a mental health crisis get help instead of winding up in the criminal justice system. At Thursday’s Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting, Riverwood Jail Diversion Supervisor Gretchen Carlson presented the two officials with awards. Carlson told us 911 dispatch can be helpful when to comes to crisis intervention.. ...Read Full Story

Health Officials Praise Vaping Regulations

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Local health officials are giving high marks to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s action last week to ban flavored vaping products in Michigan. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News not enough is known about e-cigarettes to say they are safe. In fact, the evidence points to otherwise.. ...Read Full Story

LMC College Night This Month

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Lake Michigan College has scheduled its next College Night for Monday, September 23. It’s a chance for LMC students to meet with representatives of four-year universities around the region and learn about enrolling. LMC says there will be more than 50 colleges represented at the event. They’ll include Andrews University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, and the University of Michigan. LMC staff also will offer financial aid sessions during the event, and help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the next academic year. College Night will be on the 23rd from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Upton Hall at LMC’s Mendel Center on the Benton Township campus. You can find out more right here.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Ranked 23rd On List Of 50 Best Cities In U.S. To Live

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St. Joseph is getting some national recognition this week, landing at number 23 on the list of the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. on the website 24/7 Wall Street. The city lands right behind the much larger Rochester, Minnesota in 22nd, while Traverse City is the only other Michigan city at 48. St. Joseph Mayor Pro Tem Laura Goos says its a good thing for the entire region, not just the city.. ...Read Full Story

State Budget Talks Break Down Over Road Money

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Budget talks have broken down between Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer just days after they agreed to sideline negotiations over a long-term road-funding plan. The issue that caused the negotiations to hit a pothole the size of a Buick on Wednesday is the amount of money to be included in the coming budget for roads.. ...Read Full Story

SMC Announces Four Candidates For College President

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Southwestern Michigan College has announced there are four internal candidates in the running to be the next college president. On August 6, SMC President David Mathews announced he’ll be retiring at the end of this year after 22 years with the institution. The SMC Board of Trustees voted to conduct an internal search for a new president first. With the deadline now passed, the four candidates who have put in for the job are Dr. David Fleming, Dr. Lucian Leone, Dr. Joseph Odenwald, and Dr. Stacy Young. SMC says Fleming has served as SMC’s Vice President of Instruction since 2011, Leone serves as SMC’s Director of Admissions, Odenwald has served as SMC’s Vice President of Student Services since 2017, and Young has served as SMC’s Dean of the School of Business and Advanced Technology since 2013. Now that the four candidates are known, the board of trustees is taking public input. Those with comments are invited to the next regular board meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on September 16 at the Dowagiac campus. It’s likely the board will talk about interview at that time.. ...Read Full Story

Rotary Holding Bed Race This Month

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Coming up on Friday, September 20 will be the Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary’s Great Bed Race. It’s a team competition in which several local businesses race each other on wheeled beds down Lake Boulevard in downtown St. Joseph. The Rotary’s Bryan Tutton tells WSJM News the event is more than just good fun. It’s also a fundraiser that sends dollars to Slumberland Furniture’s 40 Winks campaign. It buys beds for children in need, and Tutton says there is great demand.. ...Read Full Story

Weekend Symposium To Focus On Closing Of Predominantly Black Schools

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There will be a symposium this weekend in Detroit for supporters of predominantly black school districts in Michigan to talk about the fight to keep those schools open. “Fighting Back Against the Dismantling of Predominately Black School Districts” will feature a panel discussion with experts from communities all across Michigan, including visitors from Benton Harbor, Inkster, Albion, and Highland Park. Organizer Thomas Pedroni, a professor at Wayne State University, tells WSJM News he wants everyone to share their experiences, but also come out with recommendations to prevent school closings.. ...Read Full Story