Business
Niles roller rink reopens following legal battle
NILES – A Niles roller skating rink was able to take the chains off its doors and reopen to a limited number of skaters last ...
Christina Clark, Author at Leader Publications
Berrien County
Berrien County Health Department, Spectrum Health Lakeland give vaccination updates
BERRIEN COUNTY – The Berrien County Health Department and Spectrum Health Lakeland came together Thursday morning to provide an update on COVID-19 cases in the ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 25, 2021 3:36 pm
Berrien County
Berrien County commissioners send message to state on regionalizing COVID-19 approach
BERRIEN COUNTY – March has been declared “Restaurant Month” in Berrien County. The declaration took place Thursday, as the Berrien County Board of Commissioners voted ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 25, 2021 1:47 pm
Business
Dollar General, marijuana microbusiness, Iron Shoe expansion coming to Niles
NILES – A new Dollar General store is in the plans for the west side of Niles, Iron Shoe Distillery will be expanding its dining ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 25, 2021 11:24 am
Business
Niles restaurant week to showcase 18 restaurants
NILES – The creators of the inaugural Niles Restaurant Week are looking forward to 18 Niles restaurants showcasing menus and culinary offerings beginning next Monday. ...
by Christina Clark, Wednesday, February 24, 2021 5:00 pm
Dowagiac
SMC plans to host in-person, outdoor graduation ceremonies
DOWAGIAC – Southwestern Michigan College President Joe Odenwald is optimistic about vaccine distributions and is planning to host in-person graduation ceremonies outdoors in the spring. ...
by Christina Clark, Wednesday, February 24, 2021 11:00 am
News
Niles PD to get body-worn cameras for each officer
NILES – Body-worn cameras are on their way to the Niles Police Department, after an anonymous donor offered to cover the more than $50,000 cost ...
by Christina Clark, Wednesday, February 24, 2021 8:39 am
News
Niles City Council approves expansion of local provisioning center to include grow, processing
NILES – The next steps for Arwen, LLC to grow its business a little greener were approved unanimously at the Monday night regular Niles City ...
by Christina Clark, Tuesday, February 23, 2021 1:10 pm
Dowagiac
SMC Guarantee aims to provide financial support to students of all ages
DOWAGIAC – Over the last year, the state of Michigan implemented Futures For Frontliners and the Michigan ReConnect program to aid in allowing frontline workers ...
by Christina Clark, Tuesday, February 23, 2021 10:57 am
Berrien County
During virtual learning, students experiencing homelessness can fall through the cracks
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN – Recently, the number of students experiencing homelessness in some way throughout Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties seems to be lower than ...
by Christina Clark, Tuesday, February 23, 2021 9:07 am
Buchanan
Buchanan Superintendent Patricia Robinson on getting students back into the classroom, serving community
This February, to celebrate Black History Month, Leader Publications will be running profiles on African American leaders and community members making history in southwest Michigan. ...
by Christina Clark, Saturday, February 20, 2021 8:00 am
Berrien County
Berrien commissioners consider drafting resolution opposing restaurant restrictions
BERRIEN COUNTY – Quiet extension of restaurant capacity limits statewide took center discussion for the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday morning. The commissioners discussed ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 18, 2021 2:58 pm
Berrien County
Capacity limits quietly extended for restaurants across Michigan
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN – On Feb. 4, the update to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order allowed contact sports to resume with COVID-19 ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 18, 2021 2:55 pm
Edwardsburg
Local churches adjust Ash Wednesday services to comply with COVID-19 precautions
By CHRISTINA CLARK & SARAH CULTON SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN – Just after 6:15 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, Father Christian Johnston watched as members of his congregation ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 18, 2021 11:08 am
Education
Eastside Connections students assembling Black History Month virtual museum
NILES – Eighty seventh and eighth graders at Eastside Connections School are researching a putting together a virtual museum in honor of Black History Month. ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 18, 2021 9:57 am
Local Government
Niles Township takes steps to hire new fire chief
NILES TOWNSHIP – A new fire chief is on the horizon for the Niles Charter Township Fire Department. On Monday evening, the process moved closer ...
by Christina Clark, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 2:30 pm
Berrien County
Snow day delays vaccine appointments
BERRIEN COUNTY – A snow day means for many scheduled activities get pushed back for the day. Unique to the ongoing pandemic, those activities can ...
by Christina Clark, Tuesday, February 16, 2021 3:56 pm
Business
Niles sisters expand cosmetics line
NILES – After selling around 1,600 pieces of their cosmetic line to date, sisters Neriah and Naomi Stephens have continued to pick up momentum with ...
by Christina Clark, Tuesday, February 16, 2021 2:20 pm
Giving
City of Niles, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation partner to help community members
NILES – A new roof is just one of the repairs a partnership between a regional organization and the city of Niles have been able ...
by Christina Clark, Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:15 am
Berrien County
Southwest Michigan warned of heavy snow fall, dangerous driving conditions
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN – Berrien and Cass counties are currently under a winter weather advisory until 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Roller ...
by Christina Clark, Monday, February 15, 2021 1:12 pm
Berrien County
DASAS recognizes National Teen Dating Violence Awareness month
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN – Krista DeBoer, executive director of Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, said one of the most important things about February being National Teen ...
by Christina Clark, Monday, February 15, 2021 10:03 am
Business
Fat Tuesday, Valentine’s Day offer Niles residents a chance to stock up on sweets
NILES — With Valentine’s Day and Fat Tuesday coming up, sweet treats are on the minds of bakers around the area. At Gabrizio Italian Café ...
by Christina Clark, Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:00 am
Education
Vikings Return initiative puts recent graduates back in classrooms
NILES — A unique challenge posed by COVID-19 in the classroom led to an opportunity for recent high school graduates to rejoin the classroom in ...
by Christina Clark, Friday, February 12, 2021 9:39 am
Berrien County
Berrien County Road Department director on administrative leave, commissioners appoint interim director
BERRIEN COUNTY – The Berrien County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mac Elliot acknowledged Thursday that the director of the Berrien County Road Department, Jason Latham, ...
by Christina Clark, Thursday, February 11, 2021 5:16 pm
Business
Downtown Niles business services, sells sewing machines, hosts quilting classes
NILES – Dale Dean III has always been taken in by the workings of a sewing machine. Dean recalls when he was a child, watching ...
