Barn fire in western Michigan kills several farm animals
BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. โ A large barn fire killed multiple animals Thursday morning in Berrien County. According to authorities, the Chikaming Township Fire Department were called to the fire at about 5:30 a.m.Fire crews were able to save two horses, two goats and some of the chickens, but some chickens, a peacock and four llamas -- including three babies -- were killed by the fire. โBy the time we were able to do anything, it was so totally involved there was absolutely no way that anybody could go inside to try to get the other animals out,โ said fire chief Mike Davidson. โIt had too much of a head start on us.โThe cause of the fire is under investigation, but authorities believe no foul play is involved.
EGLE report: Overall air quality improved across Michigan in 2019
LANSING, Mich. โ The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energyโs Air Quality Division has released its Annual Air Quality Report for 2019. The overall air quality improved across Michigan in 2019, according to the report. The report focuses on information for specific pollutants, including those with National Ambient Air Quality Standards and toxic air contaminants, air quality trends, and an overview of the air monitoring network. A nonattainment area is considered to have air quality worse than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. View the full report below:More information on the Air Quality Divisionโs annual program activities can be found in the Year End Air Quality Program Report or at Michigan.gov/Air.
MSP urges residents not to text and drive after multiple-car collision
NILES, Mich. โ The Michigan State Police department is reminding residents to not text and drive after a distracted driver was involved in a multiple-vehicle collision Monday. The crash was captured by a MSP trooperโs dashcam near Niles, on Michiganโs southwest side. According to the National Highway Trafic Safety Administration, distracted driving killed nearly 3,000 people in 2018 -- 1,730 drivers, 605 passengers, 400 pedestrians and 77 bicyclists -- and injured about 400,000 people. Click below link to learn more.https://t.co/nZ4evR3dOU pic.twitter.com/LOiMET1Iyo โ MSPSouthwestMI (@MspSouthwestMI) November 23, 2020A Plymouth high school student is getting national attention for a project spotlighting the dangers of distracted driving. With the support of Students Against Destructive Decisions and Lear Corporation, students across the nation were invited to create videos and memes to drive the message home.
Missing Berrien County man found dead in St. Joseph River
BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. A 45-year-old man was found dead in the the Saint Joseph River in Berrien County on Sunday, WOOD-TV reports. According to police the man jumped into the river to save a child from drowning on June 19 and was not seen since. The man was found Sunday a half mile from where he went missing in the river, the Berrien County Sheriffs Office said. His identity has not been released. Officials say an autopsy will take place at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine.
Michigan tattoo shop shut down for not sterilizing piercing equipment
NILES, Mich. โ A tattoo shop in west Michigan had its license pulled because piercing equipment was not being sterilized. The equipment at Paparazzi Tattoos and Piercing in Niles was only being sanitized. Anyone who has been a customer at the shop is urged to get blood tests to check for HIV and hepatitis B and C.The shop will remain closed until inspectors confirm changes have been made.
Michigan state trooper injured during I-94 traffic stop
BRIDGMAN, Mich. โ Michigan State Police say a trooper was injured when a suspectโs car struck the officer as the driver sped away from a traffic stop. The suspectโs vehicle continued east on I-94 in southwestern Michigan, with police in pursuit, before exiting in Bridgman and getting onto westbound lanes of I-94. Police say the Jeep Cherokee then struck a tractor-trailer and rolled before striking a second tractor-trailer. The Jeep Cherokeeโs driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated, fleeing and eluding police and resisting/obstructing police. Police say the driver and three passengers are all from the Chicago area.
Several Michigan counties to undergo aerial treatment to combat EEE
Several counties in Michigan will undergo aerial treatment to combat Eastern equine encephalitis, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Three more EEE animal cases have been confirmed, with Allegan and Livingston counties impacted. The counties slated for treatment include area 3-1 in Berrien County, area 5-2 in Cass County and areas 12-2 and 12-3 in St. Joseph County. Additional treatment will begin in areas 13-1, 5-1 and 12-1, which encompass parts of Van Buren, Cass and St. Joseph counties. As of Sunday, EEE has been confirmed in nine people and three people have died in Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
Officials remove nearly 80 animals from filthy Michigan home
HAGAR TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Officials say they've reopened old animal control facilities in southwestern Michigan as they care for nearly 80 dogs and cats that were removed from a filthy home. Berrien County Animal Control Director Tiffany Peterson says floors at the home in Hagar Township were "mushy" due to urine and feces when authorities went there this week, and in all they found 66 dogs and 11 cats. Radio station WSJM reports a woman was living at the home. The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reports the county's old animal control buildings in Berrien Center were vacated in 2016 when new $4 million facilities in Benton Township were opened, but the county held on to the property. Peterson says many of the animals likely will be put up for adoption.
Michigan man 'deeply sorry' for raping, killing 10-year-old girl
Tommy Richards, 49, raped and killed 10-year-old Shimika Hicks in Berrien County in 1987. He then placed her body in garbage bags and dumped it in an abandoned harbor lot. Richards was sentenced to life in prison without parole, the Herald Palladium reported. Richards expressed remorse for his crime during Thursday's hearing before Berrien County Trial Court Judge Angela Pasula. "I want you to do whatever you have to do to keep him in jail," she told Jeffrey Taylor, chief trial attorney for the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office.
Four killed in southern Michigan crash identified
The Berrien County Sheriff's Office identified the driver who was killed as 66-year-old Robert Klint of Sawyer. BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Officials have identified the four people who were killed when another car ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed and slammed into their vehicle in southwestern Michigan's Berrien County on Friday. The Berrien County Sheriff's Office identified the driver who was killed as 66-year-old Robert Klint of Sawyer. The passengers who died have been identified as 60-year-old Melissa Klint of Sawyer, 22-year-old Landyn Klint of Sawyer and 52-year-old Virginia resident Kent Williamson. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
Michigan J.C. Penney store closes after more than 90 years in business
The Herald-Palladium reports that the retailer was at the mall for 40 years after about 55 years in downtown Benton Harbor. BENTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A J.C. Penney store has closed after more than 90 years at two locations in southwestern Michigan's Berrien County. Display racks and shelves were sold Friday to mark the last day at Orchards Mall near Benton Harbor. The Herald-Palladium reports that the retailer was at the mall for 40 years after about 55 years in downtown Benton Harbor. A longtime customer, Rose Thomas, says she "wanted to cry" when she saw the closing sign.
Michigan J.C. Penny store closes after more than 90 years in business
The Herald-Palladium reports that the retailer was at the mall for 40 years after about 55 years in downtown Benton Harbor. BENTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A J.C. Penney store has closed after more than 90 years at two locations in southwestern Michigan's Berrien County. Display racks and shelves were sold Friday to mark the last day at Orchards Mall near Benton Harbor. The Herald-Palladium reports that the retailer was at the mall for 40 years after about 55 years in downtown Benton Harbor. A longtime customer, Rose Thomas, says she "wanted to cry" when she saw the closing sign.
Michigan Lottery: Man wins $500K on scratch off ticket from Meijer
LANSING, Mich. โ Winning $500,000 playing the Michigan Lotteryโs 777 instant game brought a Berrien County man to tears. โWhen I counted seven of them, I started crying like a baby and couldnโt stop.โThe 62-year-old player bought his winning ticket at the Meijer store, located at 1920 Pipestone Road in Benton Harbor. Each $5 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $5 up to $500,000. More than $24 million in prizes remain, including two $500,000 top-prizes, 23 $7,777 prizes, and 50 $1,000 prizes. In 2018, Lottery players won more than $1 billion playing instant games.