News

The winners of the 12th annual Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance car show have been announced. The show is held at St. Joseph’s Lake Bluff Park each August for the owners of classic vehicles to show them off, and entries can receive awards in a variety of categories. For this year’s Concours, held on August 13, the best of show was a 1910 Stoddard Dayton K owned by Don and Joan Lyons, of Dowagiac. They also won the people’s choice award. Taking the Chairman’s Choice award was a 1960 Vespa 400 Microcar owned by Rob and Patty Gerring, Elkhart, and going home with the award for founder’s choice was a 1924 Nash 690 Touring owned by Doug and Jennifer Williams, out of Prudenville, Michigan. You can see a full list of the winners below.... ...Read Full Story

This Saturday brings the third annual Redneck Games at the Baroda American Legion. The event raises money for the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan, and will feature team competitions that include Hungry Hungry Human Hippos, Horseshoes, a Home Run Derby, and a Balloon Bonanza Obstacle Course. Food will be provided by Baja Tacos, and there will be a cash bar. They’ll also have a “Flea on Me” Market. It’s not too late to sign up a five-person team to compete. To do so costs $125, and the winning team will get $1,000. You can also show up as a spectator and cheer on your favorite redneck team for free. The games begin at noon. Registration is at 11 a.m. To find out more, go to HumaneSocietySWM.org.... ...Read Full Story

The housing market in Southwest Michigan slowed down a bit during the month of July. The Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors says the market has been setting records for several months, but in July, there was a decrease in the number of homes sold and in the average selling price. The number of houses sold dropped 5% from June, and 4% from July of last year. Meanwhile, the average selling price fell 12%. Nevertheless, the regional market this year has shown strength, with the total number of homes sold up 8%. The association of realtors says it remains a good time to sell, as the median selling price in July set the record as the highest for the month since 2006.... ...Read Full Story

The 2016 Senior PGA Championship Volunteers of the Year have been announced. Taking the Dr. John M. Proos III Volunteer of the Year Award are David Hertog and Gloria Ender. The championship’s Ryan Ogle says they exemplify good service, working hard to make sure this year’s tournament at Harbor Shores went off without a hitch.... ...Read Full Story

In this week’s WSJM Week in Review, sponsored by Basney BMW, for August 26, 2016, cleanup of tornado damage in West Michigan continues, the suspect in the death of an infant is headed to trial, a local theatre group brings its talents to Benton Harbor, and more.... ...Read Full Story

On busy street corners across the state, Donald Trump fans will be out in force on August 30th. The Michigan Conservative Coalition has organized a “Flash Mob” to support for the Republican Presidential Nominee.... ...Read Full Story

A viral Facebook post by the family of a former server at South Haven’s Su Casa Restaurant has prompted a Van Buren County Health Department investigation. The post accused the restaurant of re-serving food that wasn’t eaten by other customers, including chips and salsa. Restaurant owner Edgar Suarez tells Kalamazoo’s WWMT-TV he didn’t know that wasn’t legal, and they’re no longer doing it. The health department is still investigating, and has issued a citation to the restaurant. The Facebook post by Kristie Bowie has been shared nearly 2,800 times.... ...Read Full Story

The state of Indiana is seeking low-interest disaster loans to help people, businesses and certain nonprofit organizations who sustained damage when a record rainfall hit the South Bend area nearly two weeks ago. Governor Mike Pence announced he has requested the U.S. Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program for St. Joseph County and six adjacent counties, including Berrien and Cass in Michigan. The National Weather Service said a record 8.49 inches of rain fell on South Bend in a 24-hour period on August 15-16.... ...Read Full Story

According to the U.S. Veterans Administration, less than a quarter of Michigan’s veterans used their health benefits in 2013, and many are also losing out on other benefits including life insurance and education. The AARP of Michigan is hoping to change that with events around the state in the coming weeks. The organization’s Melissa Seifert says representatives from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency will also be available to answer questions.... ...Read Full Story

Berrien Springs state Representative Dave Pagel plans to introduce legislation next month designed to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved areas of Michigan. He says his bill seeks a one-time $6.5 million allocation to set up a revolving loan fund for stores that want to stock such items.... ...Read Full Story

It’s unlikely that a measure to legalize marijuana in Michigan will appear on the November ballot. That’s according to Devin Schindler, a professor at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. He says MI Legalize is trying to get the Michigan Supreme Court to hear its case after thousands of its petition signatures were labeled invalid by the state.... ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College has received high marks from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for its efforts to accommodate veterans. The agency’s Dichondra Johnson says LMC has been ranked in its gold category for how it handles vets.... ...Read Full Story

An organization representing mayors of more than 120 cities in the Great Lakes region is challenging a decision to let Waukesha, Wisconsin, draw water from Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative this week requested a hearing before a council representing the eight states adjoining the lakes. The council in June granted Waukesha permission to tap Lake Michigan, even though a regional compact prohibits diverting Great Lakes water outside the natural watershed with rare exceptions. Waukesha is barely outside the watershed boundary. Its groundwater is contaminated with radium. The mayors group says Waukesha didn’t meet rigorous standards for water diversions outlined in the compact. The group says the decision sets a bad precedent and could lead to a flood of similar requests from other cities.... ...Read Full Story

Two new security officers for the court system in Berrien County will be hired following action this week by the board of commissioners. On Thursday, they approved adding another bailiff at the St. Joseph Courthouse and a new jail guard at the Niles Courthouse. That follows a security review by a committee, says court administrator Brian Ray.... ...Read Full Story

The Upper Peninsula will be buzzing this weekend with the 33rd annual Harbor Fest back. The Marquette West Rotary puts on the free event for all ages. That’s according to Rosemary Smith, with the Marquette West Rotary.... ...Read Full Story

A federal appeals court says changes to Michigan’s sex offender registry rules cannot be applied retroactively to thousands of sex offenders. In a 3-0 decision Thursday, a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it’s unconstitutional to impose new restrictions on people convicted before the state’s registry law was updated in 2006 and in 2011. Michigan began prohibiting registrants from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of a school in 2006. Five years later, lawmakers added requirements that offenders be divided into three tiers based on the seriousness of their crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland ruled last year that those changes could be imposed retroactively. He ruled other portions of the law unconstitutional, but the 6th Circuit didn’t rule on those provisions.... ...Read Full Story

A local theatre group is taking its talents and messages to Benton Harbor.... ...Read Full Story

A happy ending this morning to a missing person’s case. Michigan State Police say they have found 60-year-old Debra Fitz of Decatur, who was reported missing last night. Fitz was found in “good physical condition” according to troopers around 5 this morning. She is back home.... ...Read Full Story

A vote will be held this morning by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners to add two bailiffs to the county courthouses. One would be in St. Joseph and the other in Niles. The commission is considering reinstating the funding for the positions following the shooting deaths last month of bailiff Ron Kienzle and courthouse security director Joe Zangaro during an escape attempt by an inmate, who was killed moments later by responding officers.... ...Read Full Story

A 60-year-old Decatur woman is missing and Michigan State Police are asking for the public’s help trying to find her. Debra Fitz disappeared at some time yesterday, and troopers say she has medical conditions that cause her to become disorientated and confused. Fitz was last seen around 11:30 a.m. yesterday at her home, and family members returned last evening to find her gone with her personal belongings in the house. Anyone with information is asked to call Michigan State Police in Paw Paw or Van Buren County dispatch.... ...Read Full Story

The Muslim-American parents of a soldier who criticized Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention are expected to visit suburban Detroit to get an award from the Arab American Civil Rights League. Khizr Khan and wife Ghazala Khan will be honored at the group’s Fight for
Justice gala in Dearborn on September 29. A Detroit-area attorney, Nabih Ayad, tells the Detroit Free Press that the Khans rightly spoke against bigotry. Khizr Khan criticized Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, for his comments about Muslim immigrants. Their son, U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004.... ...Read Full Story

People in Michigan with disabilities will soon be able to save for qualified expenses without jeopardizing their access to state and federal benefits. Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley signed legislation in October of last year creating the Michigan Achieving a Better Life Experience program, and it’s getting ready to launch.... ...Read Full Story

Anyone interested in learning more about how Michigan State Police do their job will have a chance to do so with a class coming up next month. The state police post in Niles will host a citizens police academy, an eight week course. It’s designed to give citizens a chance to learn about state police procedures, meet local troopers, and understand law enforcement’s role in the community. The classes start September 6 and run through November 1. You can find out about signing up at 683-4411.... ...Read Full Story

It’s almost back to school time, and police are reminding parents of some things they should tell their children in order to be safe. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says kids who walk to school should always walk in groups, or at least have an adult with them. He also says they need to be reminded not to talk to strangers.... ...Read Full Story

Students at Benton Harbor Area Schools are prepared to begin the new school year with a roar. On Wednesday, a back to school pride event took place all day at the high school. The program featured a cook off, a basketball tournament, raffles, and school supply giveaways. It was organized by students in the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, and director Julie Earle says the kids did a bang up job.... ...Read Full Story

Michigan lawmakers are expected to continue looking at ways to reduce deaths from the abuse of opioid prescriptions when they return to work in the coming weeks. Just last Friday, more than 250 people turned out for a summit on opioids at Southwestern Michigan College, and among them was state Senator Tonya Schuitmaker. She was part of a governor-appointed task force to talk opioids, and says one way to fight the epidemic is to make an anti-overdose drug more widely available.... ...Read Full Story

The 160th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Kalamazoo will be celebrated this weekend. A party is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the public library, featuring a Lincoln impersonator. Tom George, with the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Project, says they’ll also take a tour of Bronson Park, where Honest Abe spoke.... ...Read Full Story

Lots of animals will be at the Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair in Novi over Labor Day weekend, but we’re not sure if pigs will be among them. That’s as eight people have caught the swine flu , a variant of Influenza A H3N2 from pigs at county fairs in Muskegon, Cass, & Ingham Counties. That’s according to Jackie Scramlin , co-director of livestock at the state fair.... ...Read Full Story

Cleanup continues in the Grand Rapids area following weekend tornados, and volunteers from all over Michigan are helping out. Albert Yao, with the relief group Team Rubicon, says about 30 of the group’s members are in the city of Wyoming this week. He says things are starting to come together.... ...Read Full Story