Local News Archives

Michigan Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is asking all state residents to keep their fire hydrants clear of snow so they can be seen and reached by firefighters. Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News the large amount of snow we

Michigan State Police at the Paw Paw post could use a little spiritual guidance. Lieutenant Dale Hinz tells us the post is looking for a chaplain. The chaplain is a volunteer member of clergy who helps state

Coming up this month will be some events at Lake Michigan College to help students who are looking to navigate the financial aid system. LMC Financial Aid Director Kemmoree Duncomb tells WSJM News Help Night events will

A Decatur man is hospitalized at Borgess Lee Memorial in Dowagiac after being hurt in a rollover crash Sunday morning in Pokagon Township. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department tells us 44-year-old Chad Strehlke was trying to pass

Berrien RESA has a school board post to fill. RESA tells us the board this week accepted the resignation of Thomas Fanning, its secretary. Fanning recently suffered an injury after falling at his home and can no

The new master plan for the village of Stevensville is now online and available for all residents to review. Southwest Michigan Planning Commission Associate Planner Ryan Fellows helped work on the document and tells WSJM News the

Changes are coming to the fall wine festival in St. Joseph. Following action this week by city commissioners to allow it, the September event will now be known as the St. Joseph Today Roots and Brews Festival.

The Berrien Community Foundation is taking applications for this year’s scholarships. Foundation President Lisa Cripps Downey tells us there are four new ones this year, with the BCF administering a total of more than 30. A new

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is willing and able to assist the city of St. Joseph in adding life rings to the north pier. Chief Deputy Robert Boyce tells WSJM News he was on hand for this

State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker has been named the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Legislator of the Year. The Lawton Republican tells WSJM News she was selected for the honor due to her work on several fronts,

The city of St. Joseph is closer to having a parks master plan. Last year, a series of public meetings took the suggestions of residents for Dickinson Park, Riverview Park, and Whirlpool Centennial Park. At Monday’s city

A program that works with at-risk young people in southwest Michigan has received a $250,000 grant to expand its operations. Youth Solutions, Incorporated is part of Kinexus and an extension of the Jobs for America’s Graduates program.

Benton Harbor Area Schools could be looking at another deficit this year. At Tuesday’s meeting, the board of education was told a reworking of the district’s financial operating plan shows some funds for at-risk students could have

Michigan State Police are hoping to recruit more troopers with an event in Kalamazoo next Saturday. They’ll host an informational recruiting seminar to get out information on the wide array of careers possible with the Michigan State

From the Associated Press — A portion of Interstate 94 in southern Michigan will be named in honor of a fire chief who was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was responding to an accident. Legislation

A Democrat has stepped forward to run for the 79th District Michigan House seat. 29-year-old Joey Andrews of St. Joseph is the first one to announce a run for the office. Andrews is a St. Joe native

There’s been another big time lotto winner in southwest Michigan. This time, it’s an Allegan County man whose won $1 million in the Mega Millions game. Manuel Perez III tells WSJM News he plans to use his

A K9 for the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department has gotten some new duds. Lajki is a 26-month-old German Shephard handled by Deputy Mike Martin. Lajki has been with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department for one year, and

The Michigan Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education this week kicked off a series of meetings to discuss sexual misconduct policies at Michigan’s public universities and whether changes need to be made to better protect students. State

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is again putting out a reminder to young people about his office’s OK2SAY tip line. AG spokesperson Andrea Bitely tells WSJM News the service has received more than 11,000 tips since 2014.

It’s pothole season in southwest Michigan, and if you’ve driven on I-94 or I-196 you already know that. The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Nick Schrippa tells WSJM News the road crews are filling potholes and you can

Cornerstone Alliance and Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce have had their chance to salute southwest Michigan’s biggest business movers and shakers. At their awards breakfast Thursday, Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland tells WSJM News JR Automation got the

The crew from Y Country radio continues their radiothon for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital today. The annual event raises money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, which treats children with cancer for free. The Y Country team

From the Associated Press — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer has forced her campaign manager to resign after learning he engaged in past “inappropriate behavior” in the workplace. Keenan Pontoni joined Whitmer’s campaign in August, replacing a previous

The Kiwanis Club of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor has donated $10,000 to the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph. Dave Driscoll with Kiwanis tells WSJM News the check was handed off this month, partly

This Saturday will be Winter Activity Day at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan. That’s a facility where the Michigan Department of Natural Resources breeds millions of fish each year for the state’s lakes. State

The elimination of driver responsibility fees in Michigan is a good thing, according to state Senator John Proos. He tells us those fees, created in 2003, were just on top of the penalty some drivers, like drunk

The shootings at a Florida High School this week have many parents nervous about sending their kids to school, but education leaders in southwest Michigan say they do all they can to be prepared for dangerous situations.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is willing and able to assist the city of St. Joseph in adding life rings to the north pier. Chief Deputy Robert Boyce tells WSJM News he was on hand for this