Southwest Michigan has lost an academic icon. Southwestern Michigan College founder Dr. Fred Mathews died Sunday at the age of 87. State Senator John Proos says he’s “deeply saddened” by the loss of a friend. He calls Mathews a “leader for all of Southwest Michigan” and a “voice for good government as long as I knew him.” Dr. Mathews founded SMC in the 1960s to fill a void in higher education in Cass County. His son, David, is the current SMC president and has served in that position for the past 20 years. Dr. Fred Mathews was the college’s chairman from 1964 to 2015.... [Read Full Story]
Individuals and businesses who helped the United Way of Southwest Michigan in the past year reach its fundraising goal have been saluted by the organization. It held its annual awards dinner Thursday at the Mendel Center, with President Anna Murphy noting the special work regional businesses each year to help.... [Read Full Story]
The new partnership agreement between Benton Harbor Area Schools and the state of Michigan is starting to come together. Benton Harbor Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker tells WSJM News she’s learning new things each day about how the partnership allowing three struggling schools in the district to stay open will look. She says the deal won’t just be more state control.... [Read Full Story]
If Royalton Township leaders get their way, the township could get some big park improvements next year. The township has applied for two state grants, totaling $300,000, to pay for work at Bicentennial Park and the nature trail off Bacon School Road. Township Manager Steve Tilly tells WSJM News they want to fix up the trail.... [Read Full Story]
This month’s wind storms and subsequent power outages have prompted Michigan State Police to issue a warning about carbon monoxide. MSP First Lieutenant Gabriel Covey tells WSJM News some folks around the state got sick last week because they didn’t keep their generators fully outdoors where they belong.... [Read Full Story]
The president’s budget proposal is calling for the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is best known for its AmeriCorps program, and that’s got the United Way of Southwest Michigan concerned. The United Way’s Rachel Wade tells WSJM News her organization works with several other non-profits that rely on AmeriCorps volunteers.... [Read Full Story]
Michigan State Police say two people are dead following a boating accident in Van Buren County on Saturday. Troopers were called to Keeler Lake in Keeler Township about 7:30 p.m. on a report of a drowning. Upon arrival, they were flagged down by a man who said two of his friends had been fishing in a boat when they started yelling to him for help. The troopers then spotted a capsized boat about 75 feet from shore and were able to reach the two victims. Both were taken to area hospitals where they were pronounced dead. The victims were a 45-year-old man from Decatur, and a 64-year-old man from Evergreen Park, Illinois. Neither of their names have been released.... [Read Full Story]
An online tracking system designed to slow the spread of methamphetamine is making a difference, according to the office of state Senator John Proos. It tells us that the National Precursor Log Exchange, or NPlEx, was brought to Michigan in 2012. NPLEx tracks the sale of over-the-counter drugs containing pseudoephedrine, which is often used in meth. Retailers and pharmacies in the state are required to consult the system before selling such cold medicines to someone.... [Read Full Story]
2016 was a successful year for the Grand Rapids-based Bissell Pet Foundation. Spokesperson Holly Kroeze tells WSJM News they managed to find homes for thousands of dogs and cats with their Empty the Shelter adoption events statewide.... [Read Full Story]
Coming up on Monday will be a celebration of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary, and everyone’s invited. Rotary President Stephen Smith tells WSJM News they’re holding the second annual Celebrate Rotary Presidents’ Night to End Polio at the Shadowland Ballroom in St. Joe. He says they want to get word out about the things Rotary does.... [Read Full Story]
State Senator John Proos is once again holding a Southwest Michigan Spirit Tournament to find out which community has the most pride in its schools. His office holds the bracket-style competition every year, inviting schools to send in photos showing their spirit. Proos tells WSJM News he wants to see what you’ve got going on in your community.... [Read Full Story]
If you enjoy ice skating at the John and Dede Howard Ice Arena in St. Joseph, you’re running out of time to do it for the season. St. Joseph Deputy Public Works Director Greg Grothous tells WSJM News they’re shutting things down after this weekend. Despite this year’s warm winter, he says the ice rink has actually been pretty busy.... [Read Full Story]
A couple of Van Buren County Sheriff’s corrections officers have completed a new training program to better serve the jail. The sheriff’s department tells WSJM News Jessica Spears and Cody Moore studied at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Law Enforcement Training Center. The four-week academy covered subjects like custody and security, defensive tactics, first aid, suicide awareness, and interpersonal communications. Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott congratulated the two deputies, saying they’ll be able to help safely manage the inmate population in high-stress situations.... [Read Full Story]
A Bangor man will stand trial for the shooting death of a Hartford man last month. The Van Buren County Prosecutor’s office says 19-year-old Thurman Fletcher is charged with open murder and felony firearm in the death of 28-year-old Eddie Holland at a park in Bangor the night of February 3. Michigan State Police say Holland was selling drugs to Fletcher when something went wrong. Police found out about the case when Holland was brought to Lakeland Hospital in Watervliet with gunshot wounds and later died. Fletcher also showed up at Bronson Hospital in South Haven that night with gunshot wounds to the leg and foot. Fletcher’s next court date is April 10.... [Read Full Story]
Three people are facing charges following a meth bust in Cass County this week. The sheriff’s department tells our newsroom officers searched a home in the 1,200 block of Rose Street in Howard Township Thursday afternoon. A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A 29-year-old woman was also busted on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, while a 39-year-old man was arrested on an outstanding drug warrant out of St. Joseph County, Indiana. That suspect will be extradited to Indiana, while the other two will be arraigned in Cass County. Police ask anyone with information on drug activity to report it to them.... [Read Full Story]
The Lake Michigan Foundation’s takeover of the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan will be a good thing for members, as well as the community at large, according to its new director. Mendel Center Executive Director Mike Nadolski is now taking on the title of Director of the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Speaker Series, and tells WSJM News he wants to leverage the Mendel Center’s assets to made the economic club’s guest speakers available to LMC students. He’s thinking they can arrange for students to hear from economic club guests.... [Read Full Story]
Legislation has been approved by the Michigan House to expand the Freedom of Information Act in the state so that it covers legislators, the lieutenant governor, and the governor. State Representative Kim LaSata tells WSJM News the plan could help to restore some public trust in the political process.... [Read Full Story]
JC Penney says it will close seven of its 42 Michigan stores by the end of the year. The department store chain announced 138 store closings Friday. Michigan News Network Business Editor Murray Feldman tells us it’s all about savings.... [Read Full Story]
AAA of Michigan is asking everyone to make this a safe St. Patrick’s Day by not drinking and driving. The auto club tells WSJM News nearly 4.5% of fatal crashes in Michigan last year happened during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, adding 50% of those fatalities were alcohol-related. AAA says you should always have plans in place to get home safely if you’re going out and plan to drink. Have a designated driver lined up, or know how to arrange for a cab or an Uber. Also, you could arrange to stay overnight wherever you’ll be celebrating. Additionally, AAA says you should take care never to ride in a car driven by someone who has been drinking, and to report any drunk drivers you see.... [Read Full Story]
No one is hurt following a crash between a school bus and an SUV in Cass County on Friday. The sheriff’s department tells WSJM News deputies were called to the scene on M-60 near Pine Lake Street in Howard Township about 8:30 a.m. They learned 20-year-old Morgan Cabanaw, of Niles, lost control of her SUV while headed east on M-60 and wound up in the path of the Niles Schools bus. The bus hit the SUV. None of the 28 students on the bus were hurt, nor were the bus driver or the woman in the SUV. The students were all transferred on to another bus and brought to school safely. Police say alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash.... [Read Full Story]
A Lawton man is in the Van Buren County Jail following a drunken crash Thursday night. The 22-year-old’s vehicle was found in a swampy area submerged in about four feet of water near Marcellus. Sheriff’s deputies arrived to the scene near 96th Avenue and 36th Street before 10 p.m. to find the driver wandering around just east of the crash site. They say he smelled strongly of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, and was slurring his speech while stumbling around. The man was arrested and taken to the jail. There were no other injuries in the crash.... [Read Full Story]
Legislation which would grant districts greater flexibility in implementing school calendars and schedules has passed a state committee. Sponsor state Representative Daniela Garcia spoke with Michigan News Network about it.... [Read Full Story]
South Haven Public Schools Superintendent Robert Herrera is a finalist for another job in west Michigan. He is among six up for the job of superintendent for Allendale Public Schools in Ottawa County. Dr. Herrera has headed up South Haven schools since 2012 and is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University. He will be interviewed for the job in Allendale on Wednesday, March 22 at 5 p.m. Final round interviews will be March 28, with the school board selecting a new leader that night. Herrera is up against the superintendents of Pewamo-Westphalia and Lakewood for the job, along with Allendale High School’s principal, the assistant superintendent of Grandville schools, and the director of human resources with Hudsonville schools.... [Read Full Story]
Last week’s wind storms and subsequent power outages have prompted Michigan State Police to issue a warning about carbon monoxide. MSP First Lieutenant Gabriel Covey tells WSJM News some folks around the state got sick last week because they didn’t keep their generators fully outdoors where they belong.... [Read Full Story]
If Royalton Township leaders get their way, the township could get some big park improvements next year. The township has applied for two state grants, totaling $300,000, to pay for work at Bicentennial Park and the nature trail off Bacon School Road. Township Manager Steve Tilly tells WSJM News they want to fix up the trail.... [Read Full Story]
State Senator John Proos is once again expecting the Michigan legislature to roundly approve a resolution calling on the federal government to do more to ensure the Asian carp doesn’t get into the Great Lakes. He tells WSJM News a resolution he’s sponsored asking for just that has been approved by a Senate committee.... [Read Full Story]
Individuals and businesses who helped the United Way of Southwest Michigan in the past year reach its fundraising goal have been saluted by the organization. It held its annual awards dinner Thursday at the Mendel Center, with President Anna Murphy noting the special work regional businesses each year to help.... [Read Full Story]
“Penny wise but pound foolish” is how Congressman Fred Upton describes the president’s new budget proposal. Upton has issued a brief statement on the plan. He writes that the budget “acknowledges our unsustainable national debt and does attempt to put us on the path to fiscal responsibility.” However, Upton then goes on to say he’s “deeply concerned” about cuts to the Great Lakes and the National Institutes of Health. He pledges to work with colleagues in Congress on the federal budget as the process moves forward.... [Read Full Story]
The Lake Michigan College Foundation is taking over the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan. As the club has faced increased costs in recent years, it sent a letter to members this week telling them that handing off all assets to the foundation will reduce overhead and strengthen its ability to continue its mission into the future. Mendel Center Executive Director Mike Nadolski will now take on the title of Director of The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Speaker Series, and serve as the club’s leader. Members are not expected to notice many changes as a result, but this is a new era for the organization that has brought a variety of big name speakers to southwest Michigan over the years. They’ve included former U.S. presidents, foreign leaders, secretaries of state, senators, journalists, comedians, and scientists.... [Read Full Story]
President Donald Trump’s federal budget aims to eliminate the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and that’s expected to get some tough opposition from Michigan’s congressional delegation. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow told WKZO News she’s going to fight the cut.... [Read Full Story]
