Teens rescued

A pair of 14-year-old girls learned the dangers of currents on Lake Michigan while sunbathing on Mother’s Day in New Buffalo Township. The raft they were using caught a current and was taken roughly 300 yards offshore into Lake Michigan as they were sleeping on it. The girls had no paddles and were not wearing life jackets but they did have their cell phones. The girls called their parents, who then called 9-1-1 to get the response of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the New Buffalo Township Fire Department, Chikaming Township Police and the U.S. Coast Guard out of Michigan City. The girls were spotted by a fishing boat, which stayed with them until Chikaming Township officers arrived to pull them onto their boat and return them to the shore. They were not hurt, but likely were plenty scared until help arrived.  (MRN)