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Leader Publications
Taking the stage: Niles natives to star in A&A Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’
CHICAGO — A pair of Niles natives will be sharing the stage under the bright lights of a major Chicago production this month. Jasper Keck and Amber Neumann are gearing up for A&A Ballet’s production of “Cinderella” set for 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, Ill. Keck will […] The post Taking the stage: Niles natives to star in A&A Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’ appeared first on Leader Publications.
SMC graduates 17-member nursing class
DOWAGIAC — Southwestern Michigan College welcomed 17 new nurses May 1 to America’s largest health care profession with almost 4.7 million registered nurses nationwide. The federal government projects that more than 203,000 new positions will be created each year through 2031. The median age is 46, with more than a quarter of RNs reporting that […] The post SMC graduates 17-member nursing class appeared first on Leader Publications.
Brandywine bond proposal election Tuesday
NILES — Additions for a new performing arts center and career technical education will be on the way at Brandywine Middle/High School as well as a new baseball field, track resurfacing and parking lot improvements if voters approve a $22 million bond issue proposal next Tuesday. Those improvements and more will be coming to the […] The post Brandywine bond proposal election Tuesday appeared first on Leader Publications.
Cains: Opinion is not news
If there is one thing I have learned over the past two years in my role as publisher of Leader Publications, it is Southwest Michigan residents have no shortage of political opinion. Between the emails, phone calls, “Frankly” and walk-ins to our new location at 25 N. Second Street in Niles, I am bombarded with […] The post Cains: Opinion is not news appeared first on Leader Publications.
Niles man gets probation for sending explicit photo to minor
NILES — A Niles man who sent an explicit photo to a minor was sentenced to probation Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. Karl George Smith II, 25, of Niles, pleaded guilty to distribution of sexually explicit materials to children and was sentenced to five years probation, registering as a sex offender for 15 years, […] The post Niles man gets probation for sending explicit photo to minor appeared first on Leader Publications.
Dowagiac, Edwardsburg drama programs nominated for WAVE Awards
BENTON HARBOR — Local high school drama students will get a taste of the Tony Awards next month. The Dowagiac and Edwardsburg drama programs are among the nominees for the 2023-2024 WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre. Dowagiac is nominated for four awards including “Outstanding set design,” for its most recent production, […] The post Dowagiac, Edwardsburg drama programs nominated for WAVE Awards appeared first on Leader Publications.
Zolman Tire hosts Student Leadership Award ceremony
MISHAWAKA — 11 students from across Michiana recently won a $1,000 scholarship from a regional business. Zolman’s Tire & Auto Care hosted a scholarship ceremony celebrating 11 high school senior winners of the Student Citizenship Award on Wednesday, April 24 at the Zolman’s Edison Road location in Mishawaka. The Student Citizenship Award event recognized the […] The post Zolman Tire hosts Student Leadership Award ceremony appeared first on Leader Publications.
APPLEGATE: Providing a comprehensive and accessible learning environment for all students
Schools are responsible for creating a welcoming environment for all students to learn and succeed, and educators are quick to embrace this mission with enthusiasm. To ensure that learning is tailored to every student, Niles provides special education programs that are the cornerstone of our efforts toward inclusivity in each of our schools. By providing […] The post APPLEGATE: Providing a comprehensive and accessible learning environment for all students appeared first on Leader Publications.
Niles man gets prison time on drug charges
NILES — A Niles man was sentenced to prison on drug related charges Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. Walter Ward III, 63, of Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, resisting and obstructing police and disorderly person and was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 14 months to four years and 14 months to […] The post Niles man gets prison time on drug charges appeared first on Leader Publications.
AMVETS Post 1978 hosts annual Blessing of the Bikes event
NILES — Motorcycles of all varieties and sizes descended upon Niles Saturday. AMVETS Post 1978 and AMVETS Riders hosted their second annual Blessing of the Bikes Saturday, April 27 at AMVETS 1978, 1117 E. Bertrand Rd., Niles. Participants were greeted with coffee and donuts before kickstands went up at 12:30 p.m. for the 50-mile ride […] The post AMVETS Post 1978 hosts annual Blessing of the Bikes event appeared first on Leader Publications.
Vote ‘yes’ May 7 for Bobcats
On May 7, residents in the Brandywine Community School district will be asked to vote on a 0-mil increase that if passed will provide approximately $22 million for district-wide improvements, including updating security at entrances, career and technical education, athletics, performing arts addition, parking lot improvements and more! Preparing students for the future is all […] The post Vote ‘yes’ May 7 for Bobcats appeared first on Leader Publications.
JC’s Grill opens in Niles Township
NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — A new local restaurant is ready to offer customers a fresh, tasty dine-in experience. JC’s Grill, 2726 S. 11th St., Niles, opened its doors for the first time Monday morning. The restaurant, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, features many of the classic breakfast, lunch and […] The post JC’s Grill opens in Niles Township appeared first on Leader Publications.
Cass County high school students invited to participate in design contest
CASS COUNTY — Each Election Day, voters boast their participation in the democratic process with stickers proclaiming “I Voted.” This year, stickers in Cass County will be extra special, as they will be designed by a young artist from Cass County. Cass County Clerk/Register Monica McMichael’s office is hosting a design contest among Cass County […] The post Cass County high school students invited to participate in design contest appeared first on Leader Publications.
Sanitary sewer overflow reported in Dowagiac
DOWAGIAC — A sanitary sewer overflow occurred from 7:15 a.m. to approximately 9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 28 in Dowagiac. According to Director of Public Services Benjamin Eldridge, staff at the Dowagiac Wastewater Treatment Plant responded to a high water level alarm that Began at 7:15 a.m. and lasted for approximately two hours. It is currently […] The post Sanitary sewer overflow reported in Dowagiac appeared first on Leader Publications.
Dowagiac Area History Museum Spring Lecture Series continues this week with Ring Lardner spotlight
DOWAGIAC — Mollie Watson of the Niles History Center continues the museum’s Spring Lecture Series on May 1 at 6 p.m. with her program on Niles native Ring Lardner, the famous author and humorist of the early to mid-1900s. For the basics on Ring Lardner’s life, visit his Wikipedia page, and then come hear Watson […] The post Dowagiac Area History Museum Spring Lecture Series continues this week with Ring Lardner spotlight appeared first on Leader Publications.
Dowagiac teen sentenced for resisting police
CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac youth will have the chance to keep a felony resisting and obstructing police charge off his record in a delayed sentencing. Kayden Isaiah Dungey, 16, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced under a delayed sentencing agreement to 11 months of […] The post Dowagiac teen sentenced for resisting police appeared first on Leader Publications.
Two hospitalized after two-vehicle Howard Township crash
HOWARD TOWNSHIP — A 61 year-old Niles man and a 74 year-old Niles man were both injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Howard Township, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that at approximately 12:20 p.m., his office was called to investigate a personal injury crash near the […] The post Two hospitalized after two-vehicle Howard Township crash appeared first on Leader Publications.
New public administrator appointed in Berrien County
LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced the recent appointment of Charles A. Grandy as Berrien County Public Administrator. “I would like to congratulate Charles on his appointment as County Administrator to County Public Administrator,” Nessel said. “With his extensive background in estate planning, probate administration, and trust administration, I know he will serve […] The post New public administrator appointed in Berrien County appeared first on Leader Publications.
Niles teen delivers 300+ tree saplings on Earth Day
NILES — To celebrate Earth Day, Niles High School senior Sawyer Lundberg handed out more than 300 tree saplings across Berrien County Monday as part of the teen’s self-created environmental outreach program called Trees Across Berrien County. Since 2022 Lundberg’s Trees Across Berrien has distributed more than 700 trees to Niles High School, Eastside Connections, […] The post Niles teen delivers 300+ tree saplings on Earth Day appeared first on Leader Publications.
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LeaderPub.com is the digital news site for its affiliated print publications, The Niles Daily Star, The Dowagiac Daily News, The Cassopolis Vigilant and The Edwardsburg Argus. The LeaderPub.com newsroom is located in Niles, Michigan, and covers community news and sports in Niles, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Cassopolis, Berrien County, Cass County, and the surrounding area.
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