Business

hoteldoor

Bridgman Study Ramps Up Hotel Search

There is no reason why the community of Bridgman shouldn’t have a hotel, and now the community has an in depth study to prove it. Business leaders have long asked for a hotel in the beach town along Lake Michigan and their desire is fully warranted according to the study released today by the local chamber.... ...Read Full Story

workzonesafety

Work Zone Safety Is In Your Hands

Fruit blossoms and spring flowers won’t be the only things blooming in Michigan’s Great Southwest as spring weather continues to improve. Also cropping up will be the orange barrels of highway construction season. That’s why the folks at the Michigan Department of Transportation are taking time out this week to recognize National Work Zone Awareness Week... ...Read Full Story

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Supporting Future Ag Industry Leaders

Thanks to the largest rural lifestyle retail chain in the United States, maple syrup production and a honeybee project in Michigan will get a nice boost benefiting the next generation of agricultural leaders in the state and nation. That boost comes from Tractor Supply Company, which has a store along Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville and the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation.... ...Read Full Story

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Stabenow Introduces Make It In America Act

If U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has her way, current loopholes in the Buy American law would be closed to make sure that the federal government is spending American tax dollars to buy products that are made in America. She calls it the Make It In America Act, and has introduced the rules today. The new act would also hold federal agencies accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars.... ...Read Full Story

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Andrews to Host International Food Fair in April

We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling in the gut when you open up a menu and either can’t find anything recognizable to order, or are just too wary of paying a premium price for something we’ve never actually tried before and the uncertainty shoots down the adventure. Fortunately, there are occasionally events like the upcoming International Food Fair at Andrews University to help us sample new cuisines to discover what could become our next foodie passion.... ...Read Full Story

restaurantburger

How to SCORE a Winning Menu and More

We routinely hear from the world of business that success is highly dependent on three key factors: location, location and location. However, even the restaurants with the finest location who fail to craft their menu and manage it properly can sink faster than a rock to the bottom of your pond. That’s why the team at SCORE of Southwest Michigan is hosting their next “Art-of-the-Menu” Workshop for area establishments interested in perfecting their game.... ...Read Full Story

hartfordroadclosed

I-94 to Shutdown at Hartford Sunday Morning

If you know now that you need to be on I-94 near Hartford early Sunday morning, just a heads up that you’re going to need to take a detour briefly. The entire highway will be closed — all lanes, both directions — for a short period of time in the middle of the night, which will force you off of the highway in a detour between Hartford and Watervliet.... ...Read Full Story

wendysbh

Local Wendy’s Owner Expanding His Empire Again

When Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine profiled Robert Schermer, Jr. last year they noted that he ascribes to the school of life that says, “Go big or go home.” He certainly isn’t failing that grade by any measure. Schermer is the Chief Executive Officer of Meritage Hospitality Group based in Grand Rapids. As such he is the owner of a huge array of Wendy’s restaurants across the nation, including the Wendy’s of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph and others in Michigan’s Great Southwest.... ...Read Full Story

sirentest

Extended Siren Test This Saturday is No Joke

Saturday may be a day filled with tomfoolery of one sort or another as people work to prank you in some fashion, however, even though it falls on April Fools’ Day, this year’s extended testing of the Cook Nuclear Plant’s early warning siren system is no joke. The regularly-scheduled first Saturday of the month siren test typically lasts for about one minute, but each April, the sirens sound for a full three minutes.... ...Read Full Story

geoforce

I&M Equipment Inspections Underway

Chances are you may find utility crews outside of your business or home in the coming days, busy inspecting utility poles, power lines, and even underground equipment and facilities. Indiana Michigan Power is delivering a heads-up notice to all of us regarding such inspections, being performed by crews including three outside contractors.... ...Read Full Story

riosrestaurant

Rio’s Mexican Grill Has Left the Building

If you missed your Rio’s Taco Tuesday fix, the party’s over. Economic pressures have forced owners of the popular Mexican restaurant in Stevensville to cease operations effective immediately. Yesterday, Taco Tuesday, was the final day of operations and a rental van was being loaded up behind the bright red building just ahead of the lunch hour today with a simple printed message pasted into the doorway as well as at the drive-up window.... ...Read Full Story

gilmigalarug

Veteran Businessman Gil Migala Has Died

The plaque near Gil Migala’s cash register always said…Rule #1 — The Customer is always right. Rule #2 — If the Customer is wrong, see Rule #1. Or…it may have said the Boss is always right…I don’t honestly remember. I simply recall that I was eternally grateful for that little bit of wisdom because it was the icebreaker that allowed me to peek behind the curtain at the kind of man that Gil Migala was as a businessman. He was impressive. He knew his business well, and worked hard at it. He was one of my first clients when I launched my radio advertising career 43 years ago, and sadly he has now passed away.... ...Read Full Story

berriencrcboss

Berrien Road Boss Stepping Down

The Berrien County Road Commission is 100 years old this year. The organization’s Managing Director will turn 70 in July, and he confirmed today that he will be stepping down, apparently at the end of his current contract which is May 26th. Louis Csokasy confirmed for the WSJM News team this morning that he will step away from the post that he assumed in October of 2013 in the wake of considerable controversy over operations there.... ...Read Full Story