Local News Archives

Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott has a warning for everyone taking in the great outdoors this week. He tells WSJM News the ice is still too thin to walk on in many cases. “It’s still iffy

Tickets are now on sale for the next St. Joseph Winter Beer Festival. St. Joe Today’s Daniele Crevier tells WSJM News 16 local and regional breweries will be on hand offering samples. The event isn’t until January

Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad is planning to deliver a State of the City address. The mayor announced this week he’ll be discussing Benton Harbor as it is heading into its first year of total local control

The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety will be getting some new radios. City Commissioners on Tuesday approved the purchase of 22 police radios at a cost of $31,500. A $25,000 grant pays for most of it,

This frigid weather so far has not damaged southwest Michigan crops. Michigan State University Extension Fruit Educator Mark Longstroth tells WSJM News it needs to get down to about ten below zero before our crops are in

Congressman Fred Upton is maintaining that much was accomplished in Washington throughout 2017. His office has released a 2017 year in review report, which can be found on its website. Upton says, “2017 was a transformational year

With more snow being dumped on southwest Michigan this week, the Berrien County Road Department is plenty busy. Traffic Safety Supervisor Mike Juengling tells WSJM News the crews are out and about doing their best. “We have

From the Associated Press — A bald eagle that was injured in southern Indiana has a new home at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoological Society says Thursday that the eagle named Mr. America could

Allegan, Van Buren and Berrien Counties were hit hard over the past few days as winds out of the north put a steady lake effect tendril over our area. Some areas received up to a half a

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is advising state residents about how to be smart when signing up for gym memberships. His office tells us there was an increase in consumer complaints about fitness centers in 2017 with

Horizon Bank has a new leader. The chairman and CEO of Horizon Bancorp announced on Wednesday James D. Neff has been named president of both Horizon and Horizon Bank. In addition, Neff will serve on Horizon Bank’s

The Niles Salvation Army could use some extra help this winter. Salvation Army Lieutenant Joseph Hixenbaugh tells WSJM News the chapter’s Red Kettle donations this holiday season were drastically down. He says that hurts because the organization

Looking back on 2017, state Representative Kim LaSata can identify several things accomplished by the Michigan Legislature. She tells WSJM News a big one from last year is a reform plan for teacher pensions. “They’ll be fully

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is asking state lawmakers to use 2018 as an opportunity to do away with driver responsibility fees. The fees are charged to drivers on top of their normal fines when they

On sale now are tickets to one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Al-Van Humane Society in South Haven. The organization’s Jennifer Nuernberg tells WSJM News the bi-annual Fur Ball fundraiser will be in

The Michigan Department of Transportation is pointing to a recent bridge project in St. Clair County as an example of how the agency could team up with local agencies and others to make road projects more efficient

Our cold weather spell has spelled problems with freezing and sometimes bursting water pipes around southwest Michigan. Covert Fire Department Chief Doug Myers tells WSJM News that happened at his department’s fire station Thursday evening. “The alarm

Details of the settlement agreement between Lake Michigan College and former President Jennifer Spielvogel have been released. Spielvogel sued LMC in 2016 after she was fired after about five months on the job. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke

Michigan State Police are pointing to a Friday highway crash in Berrien County as an example of what happens when drivers don’t slow down in winter conditions. The state police post in Niles tells us troopers were

State Senator John Proos is saluting conservation and sportsman groups as he promotes the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Proos last month met with the St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club in Sturgis to talk up

If you’re looking for an after school program for your daughter, one option is Girls on the Run. The southwest Michigan program is now taking registrations for its 2018 program. Girls on the Run Southwest Michigan Director

The Niles Police Department has released the names of a father and daughter found dead in their home this week. Police say 81-year-old Albert Bivins and 55-year-old Patricia Bivens were found in their home in the 600

Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott has a warning for everyone taking in the great outdoors this week. He tells WSJM News the ice is still too thin to walk on in many cases. “It’s still iffy

A new mayor and three new council members sworn in at Tuesday night’s South Haven City Council meeting. Mayor Scott Smith, Councilmen Joe Reeser, Chris Campbell, and George Sleeper. City Manager Brian Dissette told WSJM News there

Benton Harbor City Commissioners will interview a candidate to the position of assessor. After much discussion Tuesday, they voted to schedule an interview with the lone candidate for the position. Some questioned why the applications were sent

There have been at least three cases in the past two days in Michigan where people with dementia or early onset dementia walked out in the cold and died. Psychologist Dr. Peter Lichtenberg, the director of the

The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is working to better train its officers to deal with the public. Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis told city commissioners this week the department is working with the St. Joseph

Residents of Benton Harbor who are interested in learning more about their city’s finances will have a chance to do so at a meeting this month. Set for Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. will be a

Tickets are now on sale for the next St. Joseph Winter Beer Festival. St. Joe Today’s Daniele Crevier tells WSJM News 16 local and regional breweries will be on hand offering samples. The event isn’t until January

The Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors is launching a Placemaking Challenge Grant Program. It’s offering local groups a chance to apply for grants between $500 and $3,500 to create small, inexpensive, and incremental community projects. Their goal