“We’re talking about a sizable portion of our communities that need support, need to be able to find community, and need folks out there that are advocating for them,” Executive Director Gerik Maverick said. “We have been working with schools for just over a decade. We work with healthcare systems on training to make sure folks are able to get resources. We’re working with the area agency on aging on some very exciting new projects.”
SaveCassCounty is hosting a town hall in Cassopolis Sunday to discuss concerns around data centers, Fibrosan, and solar farms across Cass County. The organization has invited the public and elected officials to attend the second of two town halls organized by the group. The town hall will be held on Sunday, September 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Ross Beatty High School Auditorium, 22721 Diamond Cove Street, Cassopolis, Michigan.
Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman appointed Sarah Scoggin to the position on an interim basis on May 28 following the resignation of former Prosecutor Victor Fitz. Scoggin has now agreed to serve through the end of the term, which ends in 2028, and may choose to seek election to a subsequent term.
Cass Swim began with Diamond Lake residents Jeanne Jourdan and her late husband, Tom Swartz, who believed local children should have access to swimming and water-safety instruction. Working with the YMCA and other community partners, their idea grew into a program that has become a longstanding tradition for Cassopolis students. Jourdan remains a passionate advocate for Cass Swim, hosting several days of instruction each year in her own backyard pool. Close friends Tom and Jill Vihtelic joined the effort six years ago and have since become community leaders for the program, helping spearhead fundraising and volunteer efforts alongside Jourdan.
After two split votes, Mayor Patrick Bakeman voted for David Fair as the successor to former Councilmember Tharan Suvarna, who resigned during their last meeting after accepting a job near his parents outside of Dowagiac. Fair will serve the remainder of Suvarna’s four-year term. Suvarna was elected in November 2025.
OutCenter Southwest Michigan has announced its new office location in downtown Dowagiac, Michigan. For nearly 15 years, the OutCenter has made its home in the Arts District in Benton Harbor, providing a welcoming and visible presence for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
Tharan Suvarna said he accepted a job on the other side of the state and will no longer be able to serve in the position, which he was elected to in November 2025. “I have accepted a job in another community by my parents, so this will be my last council meeting,” Suvarna said. “I wanna say thank you. It has been a pleasure serving on this council board.”
On Tuesday, August 11, Hyperscale announced that its board is reviewing strategic alternatives for its Michigan data center, including a potential sale or lease of part or all of the facility. The company said the review is intended to “maximize stockholder value.”
A juvenile was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly pointing a firearm at Cass County sheriff’s deputies and later threatening them with knives, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Mike Jones, Michigan Senate District 17 Democratic primary candidate filled out our questionnaire, below are his answers.
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