Sarah from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber talks to Zack about the recent legislative changes affecting business owners, plus this Friday's Business Recognition Breakfast & Awards, and an upcoming Business After Hours in March. Check it out at smrchamber.com!

Sarah from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber talks to Zack about the recent legislative changes affecting business owners, plus this Friday's Business Recognition Breakfast &amp; Awards, and an upcoming Business After Hours in March. Check it out at smrchamber.com!

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We're focused on Lake Life, Wine Culture, and Modern Hits for Southwest Michigan.

We're focused on Lake Life, Wine Culture, and Modern Hits for Southwest Michigan.

Chamber Chat from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber - Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Three friends in Omaha, Nebraska, are setting off on an epic 850-mile bicycle trip from Nebraska to Tennessee to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Andy Tweedy came up with the wild idea to cycle from Omaha to Memphis and recruited his buddies Clay Christian and Paul McCoy to join him. So now, the three friends will pedal through Iowa and Missouri, catch a ferry across the Mississippi River, and carry hand-written letters from local school kids directly to young patients in Memphis.

They've already raised $3000 for St. Jude and have a goal of raising $25,000 this year —with this ride generating the most buzz for attention and donations to the cause.

Three friends in Omaha, Nebraska, are setting off on an <a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-men-bike-to-memphis-as-fundraiser/73657608">epic 850-mile bicycle trip</a> from Nebraska to Tennessee to raise money for St. Jude Children&rsquo;s Research Hospital.
Andy Tweedy came up with the wild idea to cycle from Omaha to Memphis and recruited his buddies Clay Christian and Paul McCoy to join him. So now, the three friends will pedal through Iowa and Missouri, catch a ferry across the Mississippi River, and carry hand-written letters from local school kids directly to young patients in Memphis.
They've already raised $3000 for St. Jude and have a goal of raising $25,000 this year &mdash;with this ride generating the most buzz for attention and donations to the cause.

Three Bike Enthusiasts Raise Money for St. Jude's - Zack's Good News

On Monday, dog owners gathered at Louisiana Downs (a horse racing track) for the annual Wiener Dog Charity Races, which raised money to help injured shelter animals across Northwest Louisiana.

The event featured dachshunds racing to the finish line in front of cheering crowds, who also offered up donations to local rescues. Organizers say the money will pay for vital medical care, including physical therapy and other treatments for rescued pets in need.

And along the way, families in the community enjoyed plenty of smiles, both in the stands and on the racetrack. One of the participants, Kyle Duke, who brought his dog, Bean, to the races, explained why the event is such a big hit. “It’s just the atmosphere," Kyle said. "All the people, all the little kids. They like to see the dogs run, everyone wants to pet them, and you have a good time."

On Monday, dog owners gathered at Louisiana Downs (a horse racing track) for the annual <a href="https://www.wafb.com/2026/09/07/wiener-dog-charity-races-raise-money-bossier-city-animal-rescues/">Wiener Dog Charity Races</a>, which raised money to help injured shelter animals across Northwest Louisiana.
The event featured dachshunds racing to the finish line in front of cheering crowds, who also offered up donations to local rescues. Organizers say the money will pay for vital medical care, including physical therapy and other treatments for rescued pets in need.
And along the way, families in the community enjoyed plenty of smiles, both in the stands and on the racetrack. One of the participants, Kyle Duke, who brought his dog, Bean, to the races, explained why the event is such a big hit. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just the atmosphere," Kyle said. "All the people, all the little kids. They like to see the dogs run, everyone wants to pet them, and you have a good time."

Weiner Dog Races Raise Funds for Animal Rescues - Zack's Good News

Neal Augenstein and his family recently had a scare when their family cat named Mike didn't come home for dinner. For two days, Neal searched the neighborhood, walking around with a bag of treats and calling Mike’s name. He even checked near the sewers, but there was no sign of him.

Then Neal remembered something that made his stomach sink. His family had recently gotten rid of three couches — and Neal had a sinking feeling that Mike was in one of the couches when it was taken away to the landfill.

Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened, which put everyone involved on high alert. Neal feared for the worst, imagining that Mike was somewhere inside a dangerous waste facility, surrounded by machinery and trash.

Luckily, heavy equipment operator Mauricio Martinez spotted Mike trapped on a 15-foot ledge inside a trash pit. Landfill workers positioned a loader bucket under the ledge to scoop him up. And after a brief escape into a storage room, animal control safely rescued Mike and brought him safely home to his family.

"There were so many hands that touched Mike," said Neal. "And there were so many places where things could have gone very badly, but things turned out perfectly, and I'm delighted to have him home. Just an amazingly happy ending, and I'm so thankful to everyone who played a part in it,” he said.

Neal Augenstein and his family recently had a scare when their family cat named Mike didn't come home for dinner. For two days, Neal searched the neighborhood, walking around with a bag of treats and calling Mike&rsquo;s name. He even checked near the sewers, but there was no sign of him.
Then Neal remembered something that made his stomach sink. His family had recently gotten rid of three couches &mdash; and Neal had a sinking feeling that Mike was in one of the couches when it was taken away to the landfill.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened, which put everyone involved on high alert. Neal feared for the worst, imagining that Mike was somewhere inside a dangerous waste facility, surrounded by machinery and trash.
Luckily, heavy equipment operator Mauricio Martinez spotted Mike trapped on a 15-foot ledge inside a trash pit. Landfill workers positioned a loader bucket under the ledge to scoop him up. And after a brief escape into a storage room, animal control safely rescued Mike and <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/cat-couch-landfill-family/4149012/">brought him safely home</a> to his family.
"There were so many hands that touched Mike," said Neal. "And there were so many places where things could have gone very badly, but things turned out perfectly, and I'm delighted to have him home. Just an amazingly happy ending, and I'm so thankful to everyone who played a part in it,&rdquo; he said.

Chamber Chat from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber - Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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