WLKM Radio 95.9 FM

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has announced its “Force for Nature” fundraiser campaign was deemed a success. The effort raised in excess of $950,000, thanks to the generosity of more than 1,000 donors and a $250,000 challenge gift from several major supporters. Agency officials said nearly $800,000 of the money raised is unrestricted funding, with additional contributions to its Endowment Fund, Stewardship …

Sturgis Public Schools Superintendent Art Ebert said rumors of immigration officials removing students from its buildings by immigration officials are unfounded. According to the Sturgis Journal, Ebert released a statement Tuesday to address discussions on social media about students being taken from school by officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Ebert confirmed the rumors are false and that no …

A Sherwood Township man faces a number of charges related to child pornography. Branch County officials said Jerry Surber, 65, was arraigned this week and faces three felony counts of possession of child sexually abusive material. In addition, authorities have charged Surber with using a computer to commit a crime. The case was investigated by Michigan State Police beginning last …

Sturges-Young Center for the Arts has announced the return of its “First Fridays Karaoke” event. The Sturgis facility hosts karaoke this week, coinciding with the first Friday of the month. The entertainment starts at 8 p.m. and lasts until midnight. The 18-and-older event takes place in Union Room B. Meanwhile, next up on its “Cinema Circle Series” is the 1978 …

A pair of educators from St. Joseph County was recognized for their respective roles in Career and Technical Education in Michigan. The Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education honored Chad Spence and Adam Cloutier during a ceremony last week in Grand Rapids. Spence was named 2025 “New Teacher of the Year.” Spence served as CTE Public Safety instructor for …

Two dogs and many other animals perished in a house fire last weekend in Three Rivers. Fire Chief Paul Schoon said firefighters responded to a house fire at noon Sunday in the 600 block of Eighth Street. According to Schoon, firefighters arrived to witness heavy fire, with smoke coming out of the first-floor. Schoon said the homeowner was not present …

Officials from the agency formerly known as Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County are moving forward with the idea of a potential addition to their Centreville-based office. Now called Pivotal, the agency is contemplating additional building space at its current site or potentially securing an existing building larger than its current facility. CEO Cameron Bullock …

A 35-year-old woman was arrested on drug-related charges last week after authorities raided a daycare facility in Branch County. Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team detectives and MSP’s canine unit served a search warrant on a licensed Bronson daycare center Thursday. According to a department media release, detectives seized several illegal narcotics, including cocaine and a large amount of hydrocodone. …

A Niles man died following a one-car crash last week in Cass County’s Milton Township. Sheriff Clint Roach said Michael Jasper, 60, was driving west on Bell Street when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree in the vicinity of Ironwood Drive. Jasper was taken to Niles Lakeland Hospital and subsequently transferred to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where …

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by more than half a percentage point from November. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in November to 5 percent in December. In addition, Cass County also experienced growth in its unemployment figures …