The anchor of a once-mighty Great Lakes steamship is back above water for the first time in six decades. Crews raised the Greater Detroit’s anchor, all 6,000 pounds of it, on Tuesday. Three divers from the Great Lakes Maritime Institute braved the 47-degree water temperature, descending 20 feet to the bottom of the Detroit River and attaching cables to the massive hunk of metal. A barge fitted with a crane then hauled it
up. Once cleaned and restored, the anchor will be displayed at the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority downtown. After commercial airline travel and modern freeways ended the usefulness of luxury steamships, the 536-foot Greater Detroit was scrapped and its anchor cut.
The sidewheel steamer was towed to Lake St. Clair where it was burned in 1956 prior to being scrapped.... [Read Full Story]
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal crash between a semi and a pedestrian in Niles Township. 71-year-old Connie Brown was hit and killed while crossing South 11th Street near Stateline Road shortly before 9 last night. Police say there are no street lights in the area, and Brown was wearing dark clothing. The truck that hit her was hauling mail from Detroit to South Bend and was driven by a suburban Detroit man.... [Read Full Story]
Conservationists are hoping the changing political climate won’t mean that decades of work to protect natural beauty and habitat will be undone. The same bipartisan approach to preserving public lands and wildlife refuges is needed now after the presidential election, says Collin O’Mara, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.... [Read Full Story]
With hunting season underway, Consumers Energy is reminding all those folks who head into the woods to remember its own property is off limits. Spokesperson Roger Morgenstern tells our newsroom hunting on company property could mean damaged equipment or hurt workers. Pay attention to where you go.... [Read Full Story]
A longtime employee of the city of South Haven has announced he’s running for mayor. Paul VandenBosch tells us he wants to be mayor so he can continue utility reconstruction, implement rental regulations, and provide better customer service. VandenBosche, who is retired, has previously served as South Haven’s assistant city manager, and a harbormaster. He tells our newsroom his goal is to be responsive to the city’s citizens.... [Read Full Story]
It’s time once again to help make the holidays a little better for the military. Congressman Fred Upton’s office is holding yet another Holidays for Heroes greeting card drive. Between now and December 2, anyone can send or drop off a holiday card at Upton’s offices in St. Joseph or Kalamazoo, and they’ll make sure it gets to a soldier. Schools around the Sixth District have also been invited to make cards. The Red Cross, which will deliver the cards, asks that they not have any glitter or other objects attached, and it also asks that senders don’t write their full names on them. You can find out more about Holidays for Heroes here.... [Read Full Story]
State Representative-elect Kim LaSata now has one of her committee assignments. New state House Speaker Tom Leonard this week told LaSata that she’s one of two freshman lawmakers to be assigned to the Committee on Committees for the 2017-2018 legislative term. The Committee on Committees is responsible for nominating representatives to committee memberships. LaSata says she’s humbled to have been picked to be one of the few freshmen with a say on who serves where. House Speaker-elect Leonard says LaSata’s “energy and sound judgement” give him the utmost confidence she’ll do a good job.... [Read Full Story]
The demolition of the old Mercy Hospital building in Benton Harbor has led to at least one interesting find. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News they found a time capsule from the 1940s in one of the cornerstones last week.... [Read Full Story]
A lot of us are planning to hit the road next week for Thanksgiving. AAA of Michigan’s holiday travel forecast is predicting a 2% increase in the number of Michigan residents who will go at least 50 miles from home according to spokeswoman Susan Hiltz.... [Read Full Story]
Authorities say that about 200 pigs got loose after a truck heading to Indiana was involved in a crash on a foggy southwestern Michigan roadway.
Bob Dykhuis tells The Holland Sentinel that the tractor-trailer owned by Dykhuis Farms Inc. was carrying about 2,000 young pigs when it crashed Tuesday morning in Allegan County’s Manlius Township. There were no immediate reports of injuries to people, but the newspaper says
10-20 pigs were killed. Dykhuis says it’s a “difficult situation.” Two other vehicles were involved in the crash, which left the bottom level of the trailer open and allowed pigs to escape. Fire crews, Dykhuis Farms staff and area residents worked together to round up the pigs.... [Read Full Story]
A U.S. Supreme Court justice has rejected Michigan’s request to halt a lower court decision that found the state unconstitutionally put additional restrictions on sex offenders long after their convictions. Justice Elena Kagan denied Tuesday the emergency appeal for a stay. In August, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said changes to Michigan law in 2006 and 2011, which included retroactively restricting sex offenders’ movements near schools, penalize offenders as “moral lepers.” The appeals court denied Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s request to block the decision during appeal. So did Kagan. Schuette’s office couldn’t immediately be reached to comment.Michigan has the country’s fourth-largest sex offender list, with more than 42,000 registrants. Michigan prohibits all registrants from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of school property.... [Read Full Story]
A Northern Michigan police officer suspended after flying a Confederate battle flag from his pickup during a political rally has resigned. Traverse City Manager Marty Colburn says Michael Peters turned in his resignation Monday evening. Colburn says Peters apologized to the community and “for the stain he put on the city” and its police department. Colburn says he believes Peters’ apology was sincere.... [Read Full Story]
It’s an unofficial holiday for thousands of Michiganders as firearm deer hunting season opens today. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources expects over 525,000 hunters will take part in the deer season, which runs through November 30.... [Read Full Story]
Advocates for the rights of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender predict there will be challenges under the coming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, but also believe important past legal gains are fairly secure. Hayley Gorenberg, general counsel at Lambda Legal, tells us Trump could appoint an anti-marriage equality Supreme Court justice. However, Gorenberg says replacing Aontonin Scalia with such a justice wouldn’t change anything.... [Read Full Story]
The Pokagon Fund has announced it’s supporting several south Berrien County food banks this winter. It notes that since its inception in 2007, the fund has given out more than $600,000 to 25 organizations that feed people in the region. Groups being supported by the Pokagon Fund this year are Meals on Wheels of Southwest Michigan, Senior Nutrition Services, Feeding America West Michigan, Blessings in a Backpack, A.C.T.I.O.N. Dowagiac, St. Margaret’s House, and the Harbor Country Rotary. With the winter and Thanksgiving approaching, many southwest Michigan charities are now raising money to help people out. It’s estimated that one in five Harbor Country families will need food assistance this year.... [Read Full Story]
St. Joseph has a new public safety director. On Monday, city commissioners approved appointing Brian Uridge to the job. He previously served the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for 23 years, most recently as assistant chief. Uridge tells us his goal now is to get to know the community.... [Read Full Story]
A Cass County Sheriff’s Department K9 has once again gotten his man. The department tells us deputies were called out to a home in LaGrange Township Sunday night on a report of a domestic assault. They got there and learned the suspect had run off. So, K9 Faust was brought in, and a search of some nearby woods began. After about going about 1.7 miles, Faust found the 31-year-old Cassopolis man hiding in some brush. He was taken to jail on a domestic violence charge, while his alleged victim was taken to a hospital. Faust is a 3-year-old Dutch Shepard who has worked for the department since July.... [Read Full Story]
Something’s fishy in St. Joseph. The theme for the 2017 public art display has been unveiled, and coming this summer to the downtown area will be “Fishing for Fun,” featuring 20 statues of fish. City Marketing Director Susan Solon tells us they’ll have some friendly sharks and a special model that tricks the eye.... [Read Full Story]
With winter on its way, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning is launching a new campaign to remind drivers of the need to take it easy on I-94. Spokesperson Kristin Allen tells us they’re focusing on 94 because when there’s ice and snow, it can be a particular problem.... [Read Full Story]
Customers of Indiana Michigan Power are being warned about the latest scammers out on the prowl. I&M spokesperson Erica Putt tells WSJM News some people have been getting calls or visits from individuals claiming to be with the company and demanding payment immediately. I&M wouldn’t do that.... [Read Full Story]
Gas prices are down to start off the new week. AAA says the prices for a gallon of regular unleaded are settling around the $2.05 mark statewide. Spokesperson Susan Hiltz tells us conditions are ripe for price decreases.... [Read Full Story]
Firearm deer season starts Tuesday, and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is reminding all of those folks who go into the woods to be safe. Deputy Kelly Laesch tells WSJM News a big thing is to make sure someone knows where you’re going to be when you’re hunting.... [Read Full Story]
An Oronoko Township man is expected to fully recover after police say he was shot last week during a break-in to his home. The Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Police Department was called out to 221 East Snow Road around 10:20 a.m. Friday when Travis Donnell Eidsness reported he’d been shot in the shoulder. When they got there, police were told three black males had appeared at the front door asking to use the phone. After a short conversation, one of the men pulled a handgun and there was a struggle. That’s when Eidsness was shot. He ran to a neighbor’s house while the suspects all took off. Police are still looking for the suspects. They don’t believe the attack was random, telling us it looks like the suspects specifically targeted that home.... [Read Full Story]
There are just two undefeated football teams left in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision – Alabama and Western Michigan. The Crimson Tide remain ranked number-one in the AP poll and the “USA Today”/Amway Coaches Poll, while WMU isn’t getting the same amount of respect from the voters yet. The Broncos are 14th in the latest AP poll and 21st in the coaches poll. ESPN, however, will recognize the outstanding season by the Broncos this weekend. The network will broadcast its flagship “College GameDay” program on Saturday from Kalamazoo at 9 a.m. at Sangren Pedestrian Mall on campus. Fans are encouraged to start showing up around 6 a.m. for the program. WMU hosts Buffalo on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with the game to be televised on ESPNU.... [Read Full Story]
A northern Michigan police officer has been suspended with pay after he was seen off-duty driving a pickup truck bearing a Confederate battle flag around a group protesting Republican Donald Trump’s election as President. Traverse City police Chief Jeff O’Brien announced Michael Peters’ suspension Sunday after earlier saying an internal investigation was to start Monday to see if departmental rules were broken.... [Read Full Story]
State Representative Tom Leonard is the new leader of state House Republicans. He was picked for the job of speaker on Thursday, and says there are a lot of things on his plate.... [Read Full Story]
Indiana Michigan Power has completed its solar plant in Watervliet, and the facility is now up and running. Spokesperson Tracy Warner tells WSJM News the 50,000 panel solar farm will generate about 4.6 megawatts of power, which is enough for about 2,000 homes.... [Read Full Story]
In this week’s WSJM Week in Review, for November 11, 2016, Election Day brings victory for Southwest Michigan Republicans, a solar plant in Watervliet is now online, and more.... [Read Full Story]
