Dowagiac is in the spotlight again…this time in recognition of a statewide award — the first ever of its kind — delivered by a joint partnership between the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Department of Transportation. It’s the first ever Better Streets, Better Michigan Award.... ...Read Full Story
A manufacturing supply house with five facilities in Michigan’s Great Soutwest and Northwest Indiana is growing through acquisition as they pick up certain assets of a Hudsonville, Michigan supplier. Fastenal, which has operations in Benton Harbor, Niles, South Haven, South Bend and Laporte, signed agreements earlier this month to acquire portions of Manufacturer’s Supply Company — or simply Mansco — headquartered in Hudsonville.... ...Read Full Story
Gabrielle Stravelli – the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist and songwriter called an “outstanding singer” by The Wall Street Journal and “hotter than the equator” by The Village Voice – released Dream Ago, her first major recording in a quickly rising career two months ago. Now, she takes the state this weekend at the legendary Acorn Theater in Three Oaks.... ...Read Full Story
Another sure sign of spring arrives tomorrow. One that’s important to commerce in Michigan’s Great Southwest, especially with road construction season getting underway. The harbinger of spring this time is the re-opening of the Soo Locks, launching the 2017 Great Lakes shipping season.... ...Read Full Story
The small but dynamic team of St. Joseph Today delivered a solid year despite the departure of their Executive Director in the last quarter of the year, and their new leader is forging a plan that calls for “Full Steam Ahead.” That was the overarching theme of the St. Joseph Today Annual Meeting at The Box Factory for the Arts last night. Amy Zapal set the stage for the coming year as the organization is just weeks away now from the busiest season of the year — the summer time.... ...Read Full Story
A back-seat argument, and a plea for different music on the radio caused a distracted driving crash this morning near Baroda that led to a grinding wreck with a garbage truck, resulting in a young mother and three kids being taken to the hospital instead of to school.... ...Read Full Story
Apparently, small business owners in Michigan have seen enough of “good jobs” promises through targeted tax incentives that “they know they don’t work.” That’s the word today from a major small business organization in Michigan, the National Federation of Independent Business, or simply the NFIB.... ...Read Full Story
You can potentially earn a lot of different recognition from many government organizations like the Michigan Municipal League, but you can get no higher honor that that of an Honorary Life Membership. That’s the league that Larry Nielsen has joined this week.... ...Read Full Story
With seemingly increasing regularity, the do-it-yourself tinkering with the family car is being relegated to the dust bin of American heritage. Modern vehicle technology is just too complicated for most of us, meaning we’re at the mercy of skilled tradesmen who stay on top of technology through ongoing training. Fortunately for the mechanics and vehicle technicians of the future, there are generous opportunities to keep those skills sharpened.... ...Read Full Story
Their main goal was to provide financial protection for Michigan’s increasing number of “horseless carriages” turning up on the streets and paths of mid-America. Now, 100 years later, Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company of Dowagiac is celebrating the incredible milestone of achieving the century mark on their anniversary calendar.... ...Read Full Story
It has been nearly a year since the tragic death of noted radio and television journalist Denise Bohn, but as the Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor celebrated its 99 years of service to the community this week, they also honored Denise and restaurateur Nancy Racine with Paul Harris Fellow Community Leadership Awards.... ...Read Full Story
Even as the housing market took a bit of a breather in February, January’s rate of sales was strong enough to keep 2017 on the record setting pace established over the course of the last year. That’s the thumbnail sketch of the local housing market in Michigan’s Great Southwest heading into the final month of the first quarter, according to George Lucas, President of the Board of Directors of the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors.... ...Read Full Story
The workload at the National UFO Reporting Center may see a sharp increase now that the amazing team at Great Lakes Drone Company have mastered the art of The Drone Light Show. The mesmerizing look and spectacular array of more than two dozen lighted drones chasing in synchronized patterns across the night sky will rapidly become a huge hit, or at least the Great Lakes Drone pilots certainly hope so.... ...Read Full Story
Somewhere out there is the next Bertha Carson-King. For that matter, she or he could be the next Margaret B. Upton. You may work side-by-side with them, or you may simply admire their work from afar. Regardless of the situation, if you know of a stellar volunteer for any organization or series of organizations in Michigan’s Great Southwest, it’s time to help get them the recognition they justly deserve.... ...Read Full Story
The healthcare sector of the Southwest Michigan business arena faces challenges from expanding to handle the load, talent recruitment issues, and the seemingly never-ending constraints of the regulatory overlords. That’s the 50,000 foot level view generated by the latest industry sector survey results collected by the change agents at Kinexus.... ...Read Full Story
Police are just now revealing details on an early morning break-in at the Walgreens Pharmacy at the intersection of Napier & M-139 in Benton Charter Township nearly a week ago. In fact, they’re making it the Crime of the Week from Crime Stoppers.... ...Read Full Story
The future certainly looks bright for a budding young engineer from St. Joseph High School, and his story is one that Michigan educators and manufacturers alike can point to with great pride.... ...Read Full Story
Charter fishing captains, sports fishermen and anybody else who might be curious about the state of the Lake Michigan fishery, those who find themselves concerned about the future of salmon fishing, and even just those who might be wondering how baitfish reproduction fared last year are all being invited to a highly informative workshop next month.... ...Read Full Story
It’s not often that a leader will take a step back at the top of his game, but that’s exactly what Larry Olson is doing at Honor Credit Union. Olson has served on the Honor Credit Union Board as a volunteer for over 40 years, with his most recent tenure as Chair beginning in 2007. The long-time leader handed the gavel to his peer Mimi Elwell to become the new Board Chair after the 2017 Annual Meeting yesterday, Tuesday, March 21st, 2017. Olson will be transitioning into the Vice Chair role, continuing to be a strong resource for Elwell as the organization moves forward.... ...Read Full Story
When Paul Dreher launched Modern Engineering Products, which later became simply Modineer, 77 years ago he did so with a sound plan and a simple philosophy: listen to the customer, respond quickly, and focus on quality. Now, the third generation of his family is at the helm and they’re hopeful that the state of Michigan will listen to local supporters, respond quickly, and allow them to continue to focus on quality by expanding their operations in Benton Charter Township.... ...Read Full Story
Those who view Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing providers to be mavericks, renegades, or otherwise unregulated options in the world of transportation can rest a little easier thanks to word from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, or LARA.... ...Read Full Story
Jackie Huie may well be one of the most laser-focused, hardest working Rotarians ever to take the 4-Way Test, the guiding principles behind every member. Her tenacity and on-point dedication to whatever role she takes up is nearly legendary to all who know her. So imagine the euphoria emanating from her executive suite at JohnsonRauhoff in south St. Joseph now that one of the projects she literally co-created with fellow Rotarian Maria Kibler is the focus of an 8-page spread at the very center of the current edition of The Rotarian.... ...Read Full Story
The ability of both manufacturers and the contract companies they utilize to claim tax deductions would be a huge boon to domestic manufacturing in America according to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, and that is why she has announced another attempt to pass legislation to amend the U.S. tax laws accordingly.... ...Read Full Story
As wine and juice grape growers in Michigan’s Great Southwest keep an eye to the sky in the delicate days of spring, there are always concerns about the impact of climate change and volatile weather. Both have stirred up considerable interest in recent weeks according to MSU Extension specialist Brad Baughman. As MSU works to keep growers informed and educated, they have slated their Annual Southwest Grape Growers’ Kick-Off meeting for April 18th.... ...Read Full Story
When Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant of Buchanan was tabbed among the best Winery Restaurants in the United States by USA Today, the ensuing Facebook marketing campaign assembled by their public relations team at King Media of St. Joseph and East Lansing spun the story into pure gold. In fact, the campaign was so successful, it not only elevated Tabor Hill all the way to 4th place in the entire nation, it has had the residual effect of earning King Media a role as a finalist in the PR News Social Media Awards.... ...Read Full Story
Prolific St. Joseph Artist Kristin Hosbein’s passionate support for the United State Coast Guard is earning her some pretty incredible recognition at the highest levels of that agency’s command. For the fourth time in her professional painting career, one of Kristin’s remarkable oil paintings is destined for Washington D.C. where it has been selected as part of the Coast Guard’s permanent collection.... ...Read Full Story
Michigan State Police have reached out to us asking for help in getting the attention of the public as they search for a missing 16-year old who may have been lured away through the social media KIK messenger app and left home willingly.... ...Read Full Story
The man who worked diligently to bring higher education to the front of the stage in Cass County, and then advocated for community colleges at every level from township halls to the halls of the United States Congress, has passed away. It is the end of a dynamic era for Southwestern Michigan College as we learn today of the death Sunday of Dr. Fred L. Mathews, the lifelong champion who not only founded the college but chaired its board of trustees for half a century.... ...Read Full Story
While women from all walks of life have struggled to break through the proverbial glass ceiling, one woman from St. Joseph shattered any concept that women could not have, and exhibit, incredible power. The community of Michigan’s Great Southwest has, sadly, lost that woman today as we learn of the death of Judy Zacha.... ...Read Full Story
If you find the concept of a mystery dinner theatre experience exciting, don’t commit the crime of waiting until it’s too late to get in. Next month, the Lake Michigan College Hospitality and Culinary Management students will host Treasure in the Trunk, a mystery dinner theatre experience and silent auction for the fourth consecutive year, and — here’s the important part — they sell out every year.... ...Read Full Story