Dowagiac Archives

Bakeman hears from Hyperscale, but key questions remain as Paquette hosts Dowagiac data center town hall

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May 19, 2026

About 30 people, most of them Dowagiac residents, attended State Rep. Brad Paquette’s virtual town hall Thursday to discuss Hyperscale Data's proposed expansion plans. The town hall opened with a presentation from Anderson Economic Group COO and Director of Public Policy and Economic Analysis Sarah Thiele, who outlined what she described as the economic benefits data centers can bring to local communities. Her presentation was met with sharp criticism from attendees, who questioned the assumptions behind the report and raised concerns about transparency, environmental impacts, and what they described as misleading public statements from Hyperscale Data.

Hyperscale Data reports customer interest in expanding Dowagiac data center, residents still in the dark

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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May 13, 2026

The latest announcement indicates that Hyperscale Data is continuing to pursue expansion in Dowagiac and has spent money to prepare for possible growth. But the company has not announced signed contracts, identified its potential customers, or publicly disclosed new permit applications. For residents concerned about electricity use, noise, land development and environmental impacts, the company’s announcement did not address those issues.

Cass County prosecutor resigns as board tensions continue over pay dispute

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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May 12, 2026

The resignation comes less than a week after a contentious May 7 Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting, where prosecutors warned commissioners that more attorneys could leave if the county did not provide additional support to retain staff. Watershed Voice has previously reported on the growing dispute between the prosecutor’s office and county commissioners over attorney retention, compensation, and the county’s recently implemented classification and compensation study.

Construction begins on South Front Street streetscape project in Dowagiac

By Watershed Voice

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Dowagiac

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May 7, 2026

The project received support through a $668,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Revitalization and Placemaking 2.0 program, along with matching local funds from the city. City officials said Market One assisted with the grant application process. Assistant City Manager Amanda Sleigh said the funding strategy allowed the city to combine infrastructure improvements with downtown-style streetscape work.

Disaster support hotline available for those recovering from March tornadoes

By Watershed Voice

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Dowagiac

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May 6, 2026

Through a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant administered by Cass County, the three-county region including Cass, Branch, and St. Joseph counties, has partnered with After the Storm to provide long-term disaster recovery support. The program will deliver comprehensive, client-centered disaster case management services to individuals and families recovering from the storm.

Hyperscale Data announces Dowagiac robotics plans as city says questions remain

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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April 30, 2026

Chief Executive Officer William B. Horne said the project is expected to create more than 500 jobs over the next three years, including robotics engineers, AI data specialists, infrastructure personnel and operations staff. The company did not specify how many of those positions would be based in Dowagiac or when hiring would begin. Some critics of data center expansion projects say promised employment benefits can be overstated, arguing that many permanent positions require specialized expertise while the most immediate local jobs are often construction-related and temporary.

What’s on the May 5 ballot in Southwest Michigan? Here’s what voters need to know

By Maxwell Knauer

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Local

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April 15, 2026

May election season is upon us, and while the ballots may seem light, their local impact is anything but. The Tuesday, May 5 special election in Michigan features relatively few races in most communities, with many ballots focused on school bond proposals, millage renewals and local questions rather than candidate contests. Still, these lower-turnout elections often decide issues that hit closest to home — from school building upgrades to tax levies and city charter changes.

Cass County prosecutors warn of staffing crisis in heated board meeting

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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April 14, 2026

“It starts with the chairperson who has made it obvious to me in the last two years that he does not want to find a workable solution,” Assistant Drug Prosecutor Ken Stecker said. Chair Jeremiah Jones immediately interrupted him. “I’m gonna hold you up right there, man, and I’m gonna subtract that from your time and you can have your full three minutes,” Jones said. “But from you right now till anybody else that wants to come up, if you talk to anybody specifically, it’s off limits and I’m gonna end it.” Jones added he would turn off the mics of anyone who uses personal attacks at any of the commissioners. “I’m not gonna be intimidated by you,” Stecker responded before continuing. The back-and-forth highlighted the strain between the prosecutor’s office and some commissioners, tensions that prosecutors said have been building for months.

Cass commissioners reverse course, approve Lawless Park funding

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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April 14, 2026

In March, commissioners were asked to approve use of $249,192 from the Bombardie bequest to help close a funding gap in the park improvement project, which was initially denied in a 4-4 vote. In a 5-3 vote on April 9, commissioners reversed course and approved the request. The Bombardie bequest stems from a donation made more than two decades ago by Charles Bombardie, who left 10% of his estate to Cass County Parks. County documents say $249,192 remained in the fund before Thursday’s vote, with the money restricted for park purposes. During Thursday’s discussion, Commissioner Samuel Barrera read from the last will and testament of Charles Bombardie, dated 2001, and argued the county should honor the donor’s intent by using the money for park improvements.

After halting park project, Cass commissioners to reconsider key funding vote

By Maxwell Knauer

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Dowagiac

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April 9, 2026

During their March 19 meeting, commissioners split 4-4 on two funding requests tied to the project, effectively halting it despite more than $100,000 already spent on design and preparation by the county. Commissioners are now scheduled to vote again on a proposal to allocate $249,192 from the Bombardie bequest to help close the project’s funding gap.

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