Business

Jessica Vaughn was full of life and loved her regular rides on dirt bikes with family members until tragedy struck one day a dozen years ago. She "wiped out" and ended up breaking her neck at cervical vertebrae #5. That incident, at age 14, resulted in the loss of the use of her legs, and she has been wheelchair-bound ever since. Jessica did anything but give up or give in. That's simply not her style. She lives a "glass half full" life and now, at the age of 26, has gained considerable new mobility thanks to a Craigslist encounter with the folks at GateWay Services of Benton Harbor.... ...Read Full Story

A retired four-star general from the United States Air Force has joined the corporate board of directors for Whirlpool Corporation today, with his appointment to the board taking immediate effect. General Larry Spencer is new to the board as they conduct their regular board meeting in Michigan's Great Southwest this week. ... ...Read Full Story

When the company that you work for values your services to the extent that they craft an entirely new position for you, that's a pretty good thing, typically. With that backdrop, United Federal Credit Union is showing seven year executive Brett Wier some considerable love through creation of the post of Vice President of Lending.... ...Read Full Story

For the second consecutive year, threats of animal disease will impact a group of youthful exhibitors at the Berrien County Youth Fair. Last year it was the bird flu crisis that closed down operations for youth who raised chickens, and this year those who have pigs to exhibit will be curtailed. ... ...Read Full Story

At 149 years old, the Berrien County Record of Buchanan is the third oldest newspaper in the state of Michigan and one of the top 10 oldest newspapers in the nation, but it might not live to see it's sesquicentennial celebration year of 150. When Jessica and Randy Hendrixson purchased the venerable old journal last fall, they likely didn't envision having to conduct a 50-day countdown to what could be their demise.... ...Read Full Story

When it comes to entrepreneurs, strength matters. In fact, three local entrepreneurs who share the opinion that "It's All About Strength," will be showcased in next month's "Celebrating the Entrepreneur in All of Us" event from The Women's Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance.... ...Read Full Story

For years the ground floor at 190 Territorial Road in Benton Harbor has been welcoming thirsty travelers. It was a long time neighborhood bar before Bryan Seckelmann completely remodeled the entire building when the Benton Harbor Arts District was created, paving the way for Pauly's Bar & Grill. Then, as the district was leaping into the forefront, the building became a popular restaurant, bar and even occasional music club.... ...Read Full Story

If you count yourself among those who have killer recipes for things like small baked goods, jams, jellies, salsas, preserves or anything else that you're convinced would be the next "must have" items at a local Farmers Market, or just want to try your hand at being the next Ryan Thornburg or Martha Stewart, the crew at Cornerstone Alliance is ready to help you sort out what it takes to get there. ... ...Read Full Story

A midnight heist at a Bertrand Township truck stop has Berrien County Sheriff's Deputies asking for the public's help in identifying the armed robber who held the place up just minutes after the midnight hour today, Sunday, August 14, 2016. ... ...Read Full Story

A radiation oncologist and Ironman tri-athlete working diligently to raise funds to improve the cancer care that he can provide at the University of Kentucky was first across the finish line in the Maytag Steelhead Ironman 70.3 Triathlon at Jean Klock Park Beach today, but his overall time of 4:19:15 left him seven slots away from the winner's circle this time — finishing 8th overall. Jonathan Feddock from Lexington, Kentucky called it a "hot day and a little windy on the bike," and tossed in "the roads were pretty rough, but I felt pretty good." This was his first entry in the Steelhead race, but he's no stranger, to the sport having raised more than $51,000 for cancer care by taking pledges for his performance. ... ...Read Full Story

Free Run Cellars fans who have been without their tasting room for several months now in anticipation of a major re-launch have arrived at the end of their long national nightmare today. It's finally opening day for the Moersch brothers remake of their ten year old brand of outstanding wines, now with a whole new atmosphere, an entirely new approach, and a full-on Epicurean Experience with their new Culinary Director Ryan Thornburg.... ...Read Full Story

There's no better way to cap a stellar summer of waterfront fun than with a full on luau. Our friends at Third Coast Surf Shop certainly recognize the value of quality time on the water and they hope you'll check in with them for their 12th Annual Great Lakes Surf Luau coming next Saturday, August 20th at Jean Klock Beach in Benton Harbor. It's all free and it's family-friendly.... ...Read Full Story

Do you have an absolute killer idea rattling around in your head that could revolutionize people, products or processes in the Great Lakes State? Perhaps you could be the next entrepreneurial firm like the Lawn Guru of Ann Arbor who crafted an on-demand marketplace for lawn mowing and snow removal services in the 2015 version of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. Since winning $25,000 last year for best new product & service, they have closed a $1-million seed funding round, moved headquarters to a new office in downtown Ann Arbor and is hiring new positions including sales, customer service and marketing. ... ...Read Full Story

Cornerstone Alliance has been working for years to attract new business to the 255-acre development site commonly referred to as the Meadowbrook & Yore Industrial Park in Benton Charter Township. Business attraction efforts nationwide are typically enhanced dramatically by official certification by key economic development agencies and a new designation should go a long way toward increasing the visibility and marketability of that site thanks to the Michigan Economic Developers Association in Lansing.... ...Read Full Story

Jim Montgomery is a rocket scientist. A native of Michigan's Great Southwest, he developed a keen interest in science while watching NASA missions to the moon as a student in the South Haven Public Schools and now he wants to pay back his alma mater by returning to share recent results from America's latest mission to Mars.... ...Read Full Story

It's like old home week in Covert for Charlie Arnone. He has picked up a new tour of duty with the team at Entergy, this time as the new boss at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, where he will provide overall management and safe, secure and reliable operation of the 800-megawatt power plant. ... ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan State University Extension both contend that the 2016 blueberry crop in Michigan's Great Southwest is truly prodigious. Essentially, it is shaping up to be a banner year thanks to a bumper crop. Farm Bureau Associate Horticulture Specialist Kevin Robson says his visits bear out the numbers and MSU's Mark Longstroth contends that it's possible the blueberry industry could break the record of 117-million pounds.... ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County community of Buchanan has seen great times and it has seen tough times. A major announcement in the Redbud City this afternoon clearly makes this one of the decidedly great times in the history of the town, and will be a day long remembered by The Herd. That's the term the city's largest cheerleaders and supporters have dubbed themselves in recent years, and The Herd has had a happy, happy day today.... ...Read Full Story

That $1.4-billion acquisition of Talmer Bancorp by Chemical Financial Corporation has cleared a major regulatory hurdle this week with announcement on Monday from the Federal Reserve Board that the deal has been green-lighted from their point of view. With that check point completed, the transaction will likely proceed to a scheduled fall closing without any hitch.... ...Read Full Story

If you've seen the new building going up along M-139 just off of Pipestone Road in Benton Harbor and wondered what's on the way, Michael Pantelleria has your answer. It's a 5,000 square foot building which will not only be the headquarters for his construction and property management company, but it could also be the headquarters for your company as well.... ...Read Full Story

News this week of a major merger in the world of bedding likely won't have too much of a direct impact on shoppers in Michigan's Great Southwest, however one of the newest stores in the Fairplain Plaza will have a new parent corporation at the helm if the merger is consummated in the long run. Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress retailer, has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Steinhoff International Holdings of South Africa for $64 per share in cash. ... ...Read Full Story

When Lydia Molloy joined a group of other young people from Michigan's Great Southwest on a mission trip to Haiti over the Christmas break last year, even she might never have expected for the experience to have changed her life as profoundly as it has. The 16-year old St. Joseph teen is in her junior year at Lakeshore High School where, as many teens are, she's kept plenty busy with a host of activities from multiple sports to the Student Council and beyond. Since returning from the House of Blessings orphanage in Haiti however, she has been laser focused on one major goal — raising $50,000 for that orphanage.... ...Read Full Story

Wolverine Pipe Line Company plays a role in the lives of many people throughout the Midwest, but perhaps none so much as the life of a cancer patient in Niles helped out in a recent Day of Caring with United Way of Southwest Michigan. The Portage-based company which has a terminal and contingent of workers in the community of Niles has a baseline goal to "act as a good neighbor in the local communities where our pipelines travel." Members of the Wolverine team turned out to be great neighbors to Louise Adams last Friday when they wowed her with the work they did on her behalf.... ...Read Full Story

It's a new world out there when it comes to storing your own stuff on somebody else's property. Especially if you have things that need to be in a climate-controlled atmosphere. The days when your only options were three walls and an overhead door have changed dramatically, and the team at StorSmart in Michigan's Great Southwest is helping lead the way. ... ...Read Full Story

Alleged fraudulent interest rate manipulation by Barclays Bank and Barclays Capital Inc. cost non-profit organizations and government entities millions of dollars, leading to a major national settlement of $100-million. Michigan was one of a number of states that filed suit alleging the fraudulent and anti-competitive conduct and the state will get more than $6-and-a-quarter-million as a result.... ...Read Full Story

Buchanan area residents will now have more ready access to the Lakeland Health system thanks to a new affiliation for what has been known for more than 25 years as the Buchanan Family Medical Center. ... ...Read Full Story

We hear virtually every day about the need for a skilled work force. We hear about the skills gap. We hear that employers can't find the people they are looking for. Meanwhile, those seeking jobs sometimes scratch their heads in wonderment trying to figure out just what it will take to get a high skilled top wage kind of job. Fortunately, Team Kinexus is ready to help you sort through all sides of that equation with a session about specific training opportunities.... ...Read Full Story

They've been cranking out memorable summertime parties for more than three decades now, and the Harbor Country community of New Buffalo invites the rest of the world to continue that great tradition this weekend as they get ready to celebrate the 32nd Annual New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival from August 12th through the 14th. ... ...Read Full Story

Steve Peterson has had a passion to understand the consumer since the beginning of his career. It's a career that led to an engineering degree that eventually placed him at Whirlpool Corporation where he partnered with one of the largest consumer research firms in the U.S., commissioning an in-depth consumer study. Now, however, he's taking that base of knowledge and shifting his focus to money advice.... ...Read Full Story

A few short years ago, robotic surgery was something straight out of a science fiction novel. Today, it is not only science fact, it is an amazing paradigm shift that is saving lives, and Lakeland Health is a trailblazer in that arena once again. We've received word today that Lakeland Health recently became the first free-standing ambulatory surgery center in the tri-state area of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and one of only seven in the world, to perform robotic surgery using the da Vinci Xi surgical system.... ...Read Full Story