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WEEKEND EDITION TheHP.com @HeraldPalladium $3 JUNE 5-6, 2021 HeraldPalladium HeraldPalladium Berrien County COVID-19 cases plummet

Berrien County recorded a day this week. That’s down Vaccine and click on “Access Cass County recorded 15 Region boasts lowest number of new cases 268 recoveries this week and from an average of 16 a day state’s vaccine data.” new COVID-19 cases this since July 2020; no deaths this week no new deaths. last week and 19 per day the week and no new deaths. The With deaths and recoveries, week before. Van Buren, Cass county recorded 22 new cas- By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN week, down from 86 cases the county is at about 446 ac- Michigan did not update its The number of new es last week and 40 new cases HP Staff Writer last week and 126 cases the tive COVID-19 cases. That’s COVID-19 vaccine data be- COVID-19 cases in Van Bu- the week before. week before. The county down from 675 last Friday fore press time Friday. ren and Cass counties contin- In total, Van Buren Coun- The number of new hadn’t recorded under 50 and 852 the Friday before that. Berrien County was nearing ued their descent this week. ty has recorded 6,637 COVID-19 cases this week new cases in a week since COVID hospitalizations at 50 percent of residents (12 Van Buren County recorded COVID-19 cases and 115 in Berrien County dropped to early July 2020. Spectrum Health Lakeland and up) with at least one dose 20 new COVID-19 cases this deaths. Cass County has re- levels that haven’t been seen With the incredible drop in continue to trend downward mid-week. week and no new deaths. The corded 4,774 cases and 71 since last summer. new cases has also come a as well. To explore the most up to county recorded 58 new cas- deaths. The county recorded 39 steady number of recoveries The hospital averaged about date vaccine data, by county, es last week and 48 new cases Contact: [email protected], new COVID-19 cases this and fewer deaths. 12 COVID-positive patients visit michigan.gov/COVID the week before. 932-0357, Twitter: @HPANewman Man charged in Benton Twp. fatal shooting

By JULIE SWIDWA gunshot wound to his chest, HP Staff Writer and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Detective BENTON TOWNSHIP Lt. Michael DenDooven — In a strange turn of said Davis had been a pas- events, a man who was shot senger in the car when he earlier this week is now a was shot. murder suspect. Parker-Hersey had told James Parker-Hersey, police at the original scene 18, of Benton Harbor, was that he was standing out- arrested in connection side, heard gunshots and with the shooting death realized he’d been shot. of Miquan Davis, 20, also Witnesses told police of Benton Harbor. Park- that what had started as an er-Hersey was arrested on armed robbery situation re- charges of felony murder, sulted in several gunshots armed robbery and felony being fi red. fi rearms, according to a DenDooven said that news release. following further investi- Photos by Don Campbell / HP staff Benton Township po- gation, Parker-Hersey was Mary Nykamp, a civil engineer / project manager at Wightman, works on a project at her desk at the company’s Benton Harbor office lice were called at about arrested Thursday without on Thursday. Nykamp returned to her office three weeks ago after working from home since last year due to the pandemic. 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to incident. an area on Union Street The Berrien County Sher- outside the Briarwood iff’s Department Evidence Apartments on a report of a Technician Unit assisted Back to the water cooler shooting. Benton Township police at There, they found Park- the scene. er-Hersey with a gunshot The investigation is on- wound to the left hip. He going and anyone with Companies adjust was taken by Medic 1 am- information is asked to bulance to Lakeland Med- call the Benton Township as workforce ical Center, St. Joseph, Police Department’s De- where he underwent sur- tective Bureau at 925-1135 returns to offices gery for the non-life-threat- or Crime Stoppers at 800- By TONY WITTKOWSKI ening injury, police said. 342-STOP. HP Local News Editor Meanwhile, Davis was Contact: [email protected], driven to Lakeland with a 932-0359, Twitter @HPSwidwa Parking lots are expect- ed to fi ll up this summer, as thousands of Southwest Michigan employees return to the workplace following a Facebook suspends 15-month hiatus. Since June 1, workers who have been working remotely Trump for 2 years, during the COVID-19 pan- demic were able to return to in-person work after 55 per- then will reassess cent of the state’s adult pop- ulation received at least one By BARBARA ORTUTAY Facebook also announced dose of the vaccine. AP Technology Writer that it would end a conten- “Humans are social crea- tious policy that automati- tures. I think there is so Wightman is using a hybrid model with employees working both from home and at the company’s Facebook announced Fri- cally exempted politicians much to be gained by human Benton Harbor office. day that former President from rules banning hate interaction,” said Matt Da- Donald Trump’s accounts speech and abuse, and that vis, president of Wightman. social distance, provided effect through the summer of social distancing.” will be suspended for two it would stiffen penalties for “There are a lot of bene- they have a policy to ensure months and change again Martin said they’re hope- years, freezing his presence public fi gures during times fi ts for working remotely, non-vaccinated individuals after Labor Day weekend. ful workers come back on a on the social network un- of civil unrest and violence. but there’s a lot of joy that continue to follow these re- On Sept. 7, both vaccinated voluntary basis over the next til early 2023, following a The former president comes from getting together. quirements. and unvaccinated employees three months. fi nding that Trump stoked called Facebook’s deci- I’m looking forward to more Whirlpool Corp., one of will return with the option of As of last week, about 25 violence ahead of the dead- sion on the suspension “an of that.” the largest employers in the working virtually two days a to 30 percent of Whirlpool’s ly Jan. 6 insurrection at the insult.” The two-year ban Davis said employees region, is taking a phased week. workforce has returned to Capitol. replaced a previous ruling have already begun return- approach in bringing em- “We’ve learned a lot over buildings in the Twin Cities. At the end of the suspen- that ordered Trump to be ing to the architectural and ployees back to its Twin City the last 18 months,” Martin Martin said engineers and sion, the company will as- suspended indefi nitely. engineering fi rm’s offi ces locations. said, as a number of Whirl- lab technicians working with sess whether Trump’s “risk “They shouldn’t be al- throughout the region. Carey Martin, senior vice pool offi ces around the products have already been to public safety” has subsid- lowed to get away with this In May, Gov. Gretchen president and chief human world were affected sooner at their respective facilities ed, Nick Clegg, Facebook’s censoring and silencing, Whitmer shared an updated resources offi cer at Whirl- than ones in Berrien Coun- because their jobs required vice president of global af- and ultimately, we will win. workplace guidance from pool, said they began to ty. “We wanted to prioritize it. fairs, wrote in a blog post. Our Country can’t take this the Michigan Occupational allow vaccinated offi ce em- our employees’ health and During the transition, the He said Facebook will take abuse anymore!” Trump Safety and Health Admin- ployees to return to the com- safety and to strike the right Benton Harbor appliance into account “external fac- said in a news release. istration (MIOSHA). Em- pany’s buildings as of June 1 balance. We’ve learned new maker is not asking its vac- tors” such as instances of Social platforms like ployers may now allow ful- – with a 50 percent capacity ways about keeping the fa- cinated employees to wear violence, restrictions on Facebook and Twitter have ly vaccinated employees to limit in mind. cilities clean and disinfected peaceful assembly and oth- not wear face coverings and The format will stay in and stressing the importance See WORKFORCE, page A5 er markers of civil unrest. See FACEBOOK, page A8

Index Sunday Weather The Newspaper To subscribe or report High Low delivery problems, Business C6 Features B5 Local A3 Outdoors C8 for Southwest Michigan call 429-1396 Classifi eds D1 Focus B1 Obituaries A4 Puzzles B5 84 66 Comics B4 Home & Garden B6 Opinion B3 Religion B2 6750645 49086 The Herald-Palladium FROM PAGE ONE | LOCAL | STATE June 5-6, 2021 A5 Dispute over Flint bone scan device heats up in water cases FLINT (AP) — Lawyers The letter was sent to Nap- paid by the state of Michi- are defending the use of a oli Shkolnik law firm, which gan, for lead-contaminated handheld device to check for has extensively used the de- water in 2014-15 and a fatal lead in Flint residents, despite vice on Flint clients who vol- outbreak of Legionnaires’ the manufacturer’s warning unteer, the Detroit Free Press disease. that it wasn’t designed for reported. The settlement has received that work. “That’s a pretty powerful preliminary approval by a The bone scan device has statement, because the man- federal judge but much work been a source of controversy ufacturer would obviously remains, including a fairness in a $641 million settlement make more money selling hearing in July. with people who were ex- more of these,” said Mark Cuker has complained that posed to lead-contaminated Cuker, a rival attorney in only Napoli clients have had water in Flint. Flint who provided the letter access to the bone scan de- Some doctors believe the to the newspaper. vice. device is risky, especially for In a recent court filing, at- Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, a children. Meanwhile, law- torneys Paul Napoli and Co- Flint pediatrician who has yers without access to one rey Stern defended the device objected to the device, said have complained that their and attached affidavits from there is no evidence that any- Don Campbell / HP staff clients could lose out on experts. one has been harmed, but he Many employees at Whirlpool Corp.’s Global Headquarters are still working from home due to the higher compensation without “There is no risk to patients considers the use unethical. pandemic. bone scan results. from the use of the device Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, The maker, Thermo Fisher and no lead shielding is re- credited with helping expose couple months. vironment, so we’re not re- Scientific, said in a May 12 quired while administering the Flint water crisis, also op- WORKFORCE The company already had quiring any proof of it,” he letter that the device wasn’t the exam,” said Yuwonia poses use of the scanner. From page A1 flexible work options, but said in reference to vaccina- designed to measure bone Speights-Beaugard, direc- Bone scan results are not re- Martin anticipates remote tion cards. “There’s a mix lead levels in people, though tor of radiology services at quired to make a claim in the masks. However, it is still a work to be a more common of people in the office wear- the company has support- Hurley Medical Center in Flint settlement, but residents requirement for those who practice following the pan- ing masks and not wearing ed research on a “limited Flint, who has visited the site “could voluntarily undergo haven’t gotten a vaccine. demic. masks.” number of occasions” with where scans are performed. that process based upon the “We are not requiring em- “We know certain types of Davis said they’ve been universities. The company’s Thousands of Flint resi- advice of their lawyers,” said ployees show us proof of work are conducive to being able to operate across multi- website says the device typi- dents have signed up for a Lynsey Mukomel, spokes- vaccinations,” Martin said. done in a work setting,” she ple offices through the help cally is for mining and explo- portion of a $641 million woman for the Michigan at- “Our values rely on integrity said. “We want to take this of it’s IT department. ration. lawsuit settlement, mostly torney general. and trust, so we are giving slowly and we want to do At the beginning of the pan- our employees the benefit of this right.” demic, employees were given the doubt. We have offered a $200 allowance to ensure an incentive to employees ‘Learn together they could effectively work U-Michigan won’t drop GOP to get the vaccine so we can as we go’ from home. keep track of capacity num- “We can ping someone on bers.” Wightman is taking a Microsoft Teams through donor’s name over ‘witches’ remark unique approach at its South- our Kalamazoo or Allegan By ED WHITE honoring our contracts,” pare for a “burning at the A change in lifestyle west Michigan offices. offices,” Davis said. “That’s Associated Press Schlissel wrote in a Thurs- stake” in the 2022 election. Whirlpool, a global com- Instead of instituting a something we want to car- day letter to people who Weiser later said his pany, has taken region-spe- company-wide policy, Davis ry forward in our new work DETROIT — The Univer- want Weiser Hall to be re- words were “poorly cho- cific approaches to reopen- said they plan to leave work environment. The key will be sity of Michigan will keep named. sen.” Democrats, who are a ing. options up to managers and good communication.” the name of a prominent “In addition, were we to majority on the university’s As of Friday, the compa- their employees. Michigan Republican on a decide to violate the con- Board of Regents, issued a ny’s locations in Iowa, Okla- “Do we classify people’s A focus on fall campus building despite his tract and remove his name censure or formal statement homa, Massachusetts and all jobs and have them come in Lake Michigan College description of Gov. Gretch- from a building, we would of disapproval. of the Twin Cities have been based on what they do?” Da- not only had to worry about en Whitmer and two other be obligated to return the In his letter, Schlissel said deemed “mask free.” vis said. “For the past year, its students, but its employ- Democrats as “witches.” associated gift,” Schlissel peoples’ lives are “complex “We have dashboards tied we trusted them to make ees throughout the 2020-21 President Mark Schlissel said. and sometimes even contra- into every one of our lo- decisions about millions of school year. said he shares the disgust Weiser is chairman of the dictory.” cations,” she said. “Those dollars for clients and the Denise Eberth, executive over Ron Weiser’s “misog- Michigan Republican Par- dashboards tell us every day company. So we decided to director of human resourc- ynistic and violent com- ty, a philanthropist and an what the community rates let them and their managers es at LMC, said the college ments.” But he also noted elected member of the uni- Quality Guaranteed are and an approximate idea choose if they can work re- is asking its staff to spend that Weiser “has done much versity’s governing board. of the number of employees motely.” 50 percent of their time on good” and that the naming In March, he called Whit- Used Auto Parts who are vaccinated. We look By the end of 2020, Wight- campus – instead of having of a building was part of a mer, Attorney General at that data and determine man officials were planning everyone come back simul- donation agreement. Dana Nessel and Secretary what’s appropriate when it for a return to the office on a taneously. “It is important to all those of State Jocelyn Benson comes to health and safety hybrid model. “We just looked at it as a who enter into agreements “witches” during a meeting measures.” Together, the company’s gradual return to make it an with the university that we of Republican activists. He Fresh Inventory Martin said the idea of al- administration drafted a plan easier transition for employ- maintain our reputation for said the GOP would pre- Arriving Daily! lowing Whirlpool employ- with the operations team. ees who have been working ees to continue remote work However, there were more from home,” she said. through the summer was questions than answers at that Eberth said LMC will re- meant to give them plenty of point when it came to state view MIOSHA and Berrien notice. restrictions. County Health Department “We acknowledge people’s When changes appeared to recommendations to see if a lifestyles and habits have be on the way in the spring, return to full capacity is fea- changed since going fully Davis said they pulled out the sible in the fall. remote,” Martin said. “… plan and dusted it off. The college is also in We chose this timeline so “We’ve empowered them the process of updating its they could make personal to come back in, when they COVID-19 plan and other family adjustments to get need to,” Davis said. “We still guidance documents. Eberth ready. We know school and have a lot of parents with kids said LMC’s website will also children are a big consider- in school, who don’t have day be updated. ation. We wanted to allow care. We’ll just learn together “We’ve tried to stress to for the timing of their return as we go. If we need to mod- employees to take on safety to coincide with schools go- ify our plan by the end of measures for people and to ing back in session.” June, we’ll do that.” have their concerns in mind, Martin said Whirlpool offi- Wightman offices remain as well to make this the saf- cials agreed to the option of closed to the public, but Da- est transition possible,” she NOTICE FOR BIDS working remotely two days vis said they still require said. a week beginning in Sep- unvaccinated employees to Contact: twittkowski@TheHP. The Township of New Buffalo is soliciting sealed bids for the sale tember, but will evaluate its wear masks. com, 932-0358, Twitter: @Tony of real property located in the Township of New Buffalo. effectiveness over the next “We’re a very trusting en- Wittkowski Sealed bids will be received by the Township Board at its offices, 17425RedArrowHighway,NewBuffalo,Michigan49117until3:00 LEGISLATIVE ROLL CALL P.M. on June 16, 2021. Bids can be mailed, dropped in the drop box or hand delivered to Township Hall, but must be at the hall by Senate Bill 458, Require governor notify to police seizures of property worth $50,000 or 3:00. Bids will be opened at 3:00, June 16th in the Township Hall legislature when traveling out of state: more, and the bill would lower this to $20,000 Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate for property seized by public airport authority meeting room. Opening is open to the public and results will be To require that when leaving the state and on police. announced. return, the governor must notify the lieutenant 59 Rep. Steve Carra R – Three Rivers N governor, and require this person to notify leg- 66 Rep. Beth Griffin R – Paw Paw Y islative leaders in writing within 12 hours. 78 Rep. Brad Paquette R – Niles N The property is located at 19001 US Hwy 12 in New Buffalo 21 Sen. Kim LaSata R – Bainbridge Township Y 79 Rep. Pauline Wendzel R – Coloma Y Township which is currently, New Buffalo Township Fire Station 2. 26 Sen. Aric Nesbitt R – Lawton Y 80 Rep. Mary Whiteford R – South Haven Y Senate Bill 458, Irwin legislative leader House Bill 4823, Shift more online gam- “domestic terrorist” amendment: Failed 16 bling tax revenue to horse race industry The parcel for sale is parcel number 11-13-0017-0014-07-6. to 20 in the Senate To remove a cap on the amount of state To add an exception to SB 458, waiving the online gambling tax revenue that can be given Building can be viewed on the following dates and times: “governor has left the state” reporting require- to the horse race industry and tracks. Fiscal June 2nd from 5:00-6:00 p.m. ment for a legislative leader believed to present agency analysts note this could cause a modest “a security risk to this state because of his or reduction in revenue for schools. June 7th from 3:00-4:00 p.m. her affiliations with a domestic terrorist organi- 59 Rep. Steve Carra R – Three Rivers N zation.” This was proposed by Sen. Jeff Irwin, 66 Rep. Beth Griffin R – Paw Paw Y For more information, call Township Hall at 269-469-1011 or email D-Ann Arbor. 78 Rep. Brad Paquette R – Niles Y 21 Sen. Kim LaSata R – Bainbridge Township N 79 Rep. Pauline Wendzel R – Coloma Y Chief Flick at [email protected] 26 Sen. Aric Nesbitt R – Lawton N 80 Rep. Mary Whiteford R – South Haven Y Senate Bill 429, Establish sand and gravel House Bill 4667, Ban government “vacci- The Township does not warrant any evidence of title nor mining regulatory regime, fees: Passed 19 nation passport”: Passed 62 to 47 in the to 17 in the Senate House unencumbered ownership and will not provide a warranty deed. To impose a state permit mandate on “aggre- To prohibit the state or local governments All proposed bidders are urged to obtain title insurance or other gates” mining (sand and gravel), which are from producing or issuing a COVID-19 vaccine evidence of title before submitting bids. Any evidence of title shall needed for road repair and reconstruction proj- passport, subject to a $1,000 penalty per viola- be submitted along with any bids. ects. The bill would preempt locally imposed tion. The bill would also ban governments from restrictions and permit requirements (with providing an incentive to a person to require or Bid should include a proposed buy/sell agreement, the closing exceptions), and authorize a $5,000 permit use a vaccination passport. will be within 30 days after a bid is accepted, the Township may application fee. 59 Rep. Steve Carra R – Three Rivers Y also select a backup bid if the accepted bid fails to close, and the 21 Sen. Kim LaSata R – Bainbridge Township Y 66 Rep. Beth Griffin R – Paw Paw Y 26 Sen. Aric Nesbitt R – Lawton Y 78 Rep. Brad Paquette R – Niles Y successful bidder will have 20 days to conduct due diligence, and House Bill 4631, Reduce a limit on govern- 79 Rep. Pauline Wendzel R – Coloma Y the successful bidder will be responsible for all closing costs and ment “civil asset forfeiture” takings: Passed 80 Rep. Mary Whiteford R – South Haven Y title insurance premiums. 77 to 33 in the House SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-par- To create an exception to a 2019 law that tisan website created by the Mackinac Center prohibited government “civil asset forfeitures,” for Public Policy, providing concise, non-parti- New Buffalo Township reserves the right to accept any bid, reject which are takings of property that may be san, plain-English descriptions of every bill and any and all bids, to waive informalities and to make the award in associated with a suspected drug-related vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please anymannerdeemedinthebestinterestofNewBuffaloTownship. crime, unless the individual is actually convict- visit www.MichiganVotes.org. ed or accepts a plea bargain. That only applies Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting