National Weather Service - Strong winds (April 14, 15) -- Berrien County Michigan

from www.weather.com/ (statement for Niles MI 49120) :

Strong Winds Expected Through Tonight until 12:30 a.m. Sunday April 15... East winds will strengthen to 25 to 30 mph late this afternoon 4/14/2018 into this evening, with some gusts up to 40 mph possible. The strongest winds are expected from late this afternoon through the early overnight hours. Unsecured objects may be blown around. Motorists of high profile vehicles may experience some difficulty tonight due to the strong winds, especially on north to south oriented roads.

Highway Clean-up (Lake Street, Niles, MIchigan -- Cass & Berrien Counties / Niles - Howard townships)

Saturday April 21, 2018 -- Church announcement page -- gives directions =

9 a.m. meet at Hope Community Church -- 2390 Lake Street -- Google Map directions at

https://hopeofniles.com/events/2018/04/21/highway-clean-up

Meet at the church parking lot ready to work and serve our neighbors !

Niles Kayaker -- Cory Wright

from NILES Daily Star -- (report from Kalamazoo WMU Coroner - Pathologist) - April 13, 2018

WATERVLIET TOWNSHIP, MI — An autopsy Thursday 4/12/2018 confirmed that the identity of the body found in the Paw Paw River Tuesday 4/10/2018 was Cory Wright, according to the Berrien County (Michigan) Sheriff’s Department.

Wright, 35, of Niles, was first reported missing on Feb. 27, 2018 when his kayak hit a log in the Paw Paw River and he was knocked into the water.

Authorities located a body at about 4:47 p.m. Tuesday, about 400 yards from where Wright was first reported missing near 4265 R. Smith St., Watervliet.

The body was sent to Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI and then to Western Michigan University, where an autopsy was conducted Thursday morning.

The report also showed that there were no signs of foul play and it was an accidental drowning.

Authorities spent 43 days searching for Wright. Agencies involved in the search included Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Berrien County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, Berrien County Sheriff’s Dive Team, Watervliet Fire Department, and Pride Care Ambulance.

Berrien County Undersheriff Charles Heit expressed his condolences to Wright’s family.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends,” Heit said.

Prayer Breakfast - Friday April 20, 7:30 a.m. Century Center, South Bend, IN

The United Religious Community 2018 Prayer Breakfast is Friday, April 20, 2018 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Century Center in  downtown South Bend, IN.  Beginning with addresses from Bishop Kevin Rhoades and Mayor Pete Buttigieg,  after which there will be a multi-faith prayer service. The featured speaker is Ali Noorani, the Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy organization promoting the value of immigrants and immigration. 

Ali will present "Bibles, Badges and Business", an effort with particular outreach to evangelical traditions, police, and the business sector to better understand the importance of successful immigration.   Attendees will get a first view of the Gateways for Growth research data on immigration in the South Bend/Elkhart region. 

http://wvpe.org/post/united-religious-community-st-joseph-county-presents-2018-prayer-breakfast

Opponent of Endangered Species Act appointed by Interior Secretary Zinke to Wildlife Post in POTUS 45 administration (Here and Now)

from NPR and WBUR sponsored news show (Wed. April 11, 2018): "Here and Now"

A longtime opponent of the Endangered Species Act has been tapped to fill a key post guiding federal policy on endangered species. In March, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke named Susan Combs acting assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks. Environmental advocates say that could signal big changes for the Endangered Species Act.

www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/04/11/susan-combs-interior-department-wildlife-policy/ 

Body recovered from Paw Paw River near Watervliet, MI (Berrien County) - April 10, 2018

BREAKING News -- Thursday 4/12/2018 -- update in WSBT (CBS local affiliate, S. Bend, IN) dot-com =

PAW PAW — 

On Thursday, police expect to learn whose body they found in the Paw Paw River Tuesday night.

At this point, investigators believe it's a Niles, Michigan man who disappeared in February 2018.

Cory Wright, 35, disappeared while kayaking with fiends.

Police and the Watervliet Fire Department have been working for a month and a half to find him.

Officials will conduct an autopsy on the body Thursday in Kalamazoo, MI.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day - April 12 (annually)

Today is a celebration of one of America’s most iconic comfort foods, it's Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. At its core, grilled cheese is an incredibly simple creation — take some cheese, put it between two slices of bread and heat it up. Of course, restaurants around the country are taking grilled cheese to another level, adding a wide variety of ingredients — from bacon to vegetables to locally themed toppings — and using cheese that strays far from the gold standard of American or cheddar.

www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/food-and-wine/2018/04/12/grilled-cheese-sandwiches/501182002