• Vouchers are available at Niles City and Niles Township halls, offering residents one free disposal of a pickup truck load of trash at the Southeast Berrien County Landfill. The program is also available to the other municipalities that own the landfill — Buchanan city, Buchanan Township and Bertrand Township. The Southeast Berrien County Landfill is located at 3200 Chamberlain Rd. in Bertrand Township.
• The annual City of Niles Fire Department Open House is scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the fire department, 1345 East Main St. Those in attendance can see the haz-mat trailer, tower 4 and Rescue One. Firefighters will provide the station tours. Refreshments will be provided.
• Bertrand Township now has an official website. It launched last month at www.bertrandtownship.com.
• Mike Johnston, vice president of government affairs for the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), will be the guest speaker for the Berrien County Manufacturers Council (BCMC) meeting today at noon at Lake Michigan College’s Bertrand Crossing Campus.
This seminar, “Moving the Manufacturing Agenda,” will provide a legislative update on the changes that have already occurred this year, and what the MMA sees as potential for manufacturers in the future. This seminar will be beneficial for all manufacturers to attend, as well as anyone interested in learning more about what state legislators and the MMA are doing to assist Michigan manufacturing.
• Southwestern Community Ambulance Service is having a benefit dinner for paramedic Larry Daus Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. at Niles Fraternal Order of Police, 600 North State St., Niles.
Daus has been a paramedic since 1987 and for SMCAS since 1992.
Daus has mounting medical bills and expenses incurred from a prolonged illness.
The benefit dinner will include spaghetti, garlic bread, salad and dessert for $8 for adults; $4 for kids 3-10; and free for kids under 3.
There will also be a 50/50 drawing, silent auction and bake sale.
Donations for Daus are being taken at Fifth Third Bank in the name of “Larry Daus Benefit.”