Set for June 24 is the 26th annual SHOUT for South Haven Cottage Walk. Chair Patricia Sheppard tells us they seek out the owners of interesting or beautiful homes and ask if they’ll be part of the tour. This year’s walk with tour five homes.... [Read Full Story]
The South Haven Area Community Foundation has awarded $72,000 to 24 non-profits to help support educational, cultural, art, and youth programs and projects in the South Haven area. Its South Haven High School student affiliate, Youth Advisory Council, has also awarded $6,800 in additional grants to youth, educational, and South Haven Public School initiatives. Among the recipients of foundation grants this year are Junior Achievement of SW Michigan, Parent Resource, the Michigan Flywheelers Museum, Lory’s Place, The Mitten Children’s Museum, the Al-Van Humane Society, and the South Haven Region Business Hub. We have a fill list at our website. Each spring, the foundation requests grant proposals from the area’s non-profit organizations concentrating on art, culture, education, recreation, information, and community health with the goal of enriching and improving the lives of residents. To date, it has awarded more than $700,000.... [Read Full Story]
The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has gotten an update on efforts to expand broadband internet in the community from Mercury Broadband, a fiber and fixed wireless provider. Speaking to commissioners last week, Mercury’s Scott Clark said the company has been a partner of the state and the FCC as it received grants to roll out broadband in rural areas. Mercury received about $38 million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to focus on southwest Michigan.... [Read Full Story]
46 new Michigan State Police troopers are being assigned to posts throughout the state with their graduation Friday from the 143rd Trooper Recruit School. Among the troopers are four coming to southwest Michigan. Brad Baughman of New Buffalo has been assigned to the Paw Paw post, along with Justin McIntyre of Portage and Jeremy Smith of Lawton. Assigned to the Niles post is Kade Erwin of Niles. Governor Gretchen Whitmer was the guest speaker at Friday’s graduation, while MSP Director Joe Gasper administered the Oath of Office to the new troopers. The school began on January 22 with 63 prospects. Over the next several months, they were trained in patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, decision making, leadership, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing, firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, and precision driving. The next recruit school, the 144th, will begin on July 9 at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing.... [Read Full Story]
Berrien RESA has recognized seven Berrien County businesses for their efforts to help it in its mission. During its Closing Day Celebration, RESA saluted the seven for their longstanding commitment to the education community by naming them Partners in Education. The partners are Anytime Fitness of Stevensville, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the Andy J. Egan Company, Ashlee Offord of Corewell Health, PetSmart of Benton Harbor, Roger’s Foodland, and Sommerfeldt Farms. RESA Superintendent Eric Hoppstock says while RESA has nearly 400 employees and serves 24,000 students, the services it provides are only as strong as the partnerships the form. He says without the help of area businesses, community groups, agencies and volunteers, none of what Berrien RESA does would be possible. In 2009, RESA established the Partnership in Education Awards to recognize those unsung efforts of community members who make a difference in the classroom.... [Read Full Story]
Congressman Bill Huizenga is among members of the U.S. House seeking to stop the U.S. Department of Energy from implementing rules that could affect the use of gas stoves. The Save Our Gas Stoves Act would block a proposed regulation that would require manufacturers of gas stoves to limit how much gas the stoves use. Opponents say this will result in longer cooking times. Huizenga tells us he’s been warning since the start of the Biden administration that a gas stove ban could be coming.... [Read Full Story]
A familiar face inside The Market is moving on. But, when one door closes, another opens.... [Read Full Story]
Is one man’s trash really another man’s treasure?... [Read Full Story]
Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network in Cassopolis has found a new way to combat opioid overdoses with the distribution of naloxone. It’s gotten a naloxone vending machine. Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator EJ McAndrew tells us Wayne State University contacted the group about the idea.... [Read Full Story]
Legislation from Congressman Bill Huizenga aims to make it easier for startup businesses to attract investment by revising who may be considered an accredited investor by the SEC for participating in private offerings of securities. He tells us there are many who would support startups who don’t meet the current SEC requirement of having $1 million in assets.... [Read Full Story]
The Annual Maker’s Trail Festival is this Saturday at Weko Beach in Bridgman. The event attracts thousands to the beach each year to try out the offerings of local breweries and more. St. Joseph Today’s Daniele Crevier tells us it’s a lot of fun.... [Read Full Story]
Berrien County Animal Control has gotten some recommendations for improving its operations from a consultant who was in town this year. Speaking to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday, animal shelter manager Ashley Herr said Outcomes for Animals observed shelter operations and suggested some changes to the hours.... [Read Full Story]
Those experiencing emergency medical situations in the St. Joseph area will soon have better facilities to be treated at.... [Read Full Story]
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey will throw out the first pitch at the Detroit Tigers game on Monday. He tells us retired Chief Deputy Robert Boyce learned of the opportunity for a law enforcement official to throw out the first pitch at Law Enforcement Appreciation Night and put in Bailey’s name for consideration. Bailey says it’s an honor.... [Read Full Story]
Flick Pick is a podcast about movies. In today’s episode, Andrew Green reviews The Boogeyman, which is a movie now in theaters.... [Read Full Story]
The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising drivers there will be nightly double lane closures on eastbound I-94 at Pipestone Road starting this Sunday. The agency says the closures are for bridge repairs. They’ll be in effect from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. through next Thursday. During the work, eastbound I-94 at Pipestone will be reduced to one lane. Drivers should expect delays, and alternate routes are recommended. You can find out about any MDOT construction project at Michigan.gov/Drive.... [Read Full Story]
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford to the Michigan Community Corrections Board. ... [Read Full Story]
The Environmental Protection Agency has terminated its Safe Drinking Water Act order with the city of Benton Harbor. This means the city has done what’s required by the EPA to ensure its drinking water meets safety standards for lead. The EPA in 2021 issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the Benton Harbor Public Water System outlining the steps needed for the system to correct certain violations and come into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. In the years that followed, the city was able to replace lead water service lines throughout the community. The EPA says 100% of the lead service lines in the city have been replaced, and the water system has not experienced a lead action level exceedance in any of its three most recent Lead and Copper Rule compliance monitoring periods. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will continue to work with the city to ensure water standards are maintained.... [Read Full Story]
On May 20, several days after the owner of Orchards Mall in Benton Charter Township reportedly agreed to install sonic anti-bird devices, we visited the mall to document the bird population in one area.... [Read Full Story]
(NEW YORK) — Wildfire smoke from Canada has clouded much of the Northeast, leaving millions of Americans exposed to unhealthy levels of particulate matter.... [Read Full Story]
Another Air Quality Action Day is in effect for millions of people in Michigan due to the smoke that has drifted over the state from wildfires in Canada. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy says there will be elevated levels of pollution in counties stretching from Monroe to Wexford county and from Lake Huron to Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties. Governor Whitmer says she’s keeping her eye on the situation.... [Read Full Story]
Residents looking forward to shopping for discount clothing and home goods at the new Ross Dress for Less in Benton Township will have to wait a little bit longer.... [Read Full Story]
The renovation of South Haven’s Kids’ Corner Park is nearly done. Public Works director Bill Hunter gave an update to the city council this week.... [Read Full Story]
The renovation of South Haven’s Kids’ Corner Park is nearly done. Public Works director Bill Hunter gave an update to the city council this week.... [Read Full Story]
The city of South Haven and South Haven Township are holding a forum on housing tonight at South Haven’s L.C. Mohr High School. City Manager Kate Hosier says it starts at 7 pm and will focus with Ryan Kilpatrick of Flywheel Momentum on drafting a housing plan for the communities.... [Read Full Story]
The city of South Haven and South Haven Township are holding a forum on housing tonight at South Haven’s L.C. Mohr High School. City Manager Kate Hosier says it starts at 7 pm and will focus with Ryan Kilpatrick of Flywheel Momentum on drafting a housing plan for the communities.... [Read Full Story]
The 11th annual Benton Harbor Peace Walk will be next Wednesday starting at Benton Harbor High School. Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education Trustee Elnora Gavin tells us it’s a chance for everyone to come together in the spirit of peace just as the school year ends. She says the students are excited.... [Read Full Story]
Berrien County commissioner Chokwe Pitchford has earned the backing of Benton Township in his effort to curb gun violence in the community.... [Read Full Story]
Set for June 17 is the first ever Niles Pride Festival. Organizer Hailey Colpitts tells us she helped form the Niles Pride Committee, which is staging the event at Riverfront Park from 7 to 9 p.m. She started thinking about having a Pride event after seeing Buchanan and Three Rivers are holding their own events.... [Read Full Story]
Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad will be in Chicago Thursday to receive the Richard M. Daley Water Equity Award from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. He told city commissioners this week the city’s efforts to improve the water system and to remove lead service lines have led to the honor.... [Read Full Story]
