Cass County

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency was notified last week by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services of a case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The case was reported Thursday and occurred in a child residing in Cass County. Agency officials said the incident is the first confirmed contracted case of the disease in Michigan since 2009. Rocky Mountain Spotted …

A citizen tip and diligence by investigating law-enforcement officers led to the arrest of a South Bend man in a bank robbery last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s officials said a lone gunman entered Chemical Bank at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the 69000 block of M-62 in Edwardsburg. Quick response and a subsequent investigation by Ontwa Township, Edwardsburg Police, the …

Cass County officials responded last weekend to Marcellus Township regarding a single-vehicle accident involving a Marcellus man. Sheriff’s officials said a vehicle driven by Jacob White, 22, was heading west on M-216 when he lost control near Knight Road. His vehicle went off the roadway and struck an embankment. The incident occurred at 4:20 a.m. Saturday. White suffered minor injuries …

A cold-case investigation led by Cass County officials resulted in the arrest of an Indiana man related to a case dating to 1977. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Raymond Richmond, a 56-year-old South Bend resident, was arrested Thursday in connection with the November 1977 homicide of Robert Stasiak. The 25-year-old Stasiak was found shot at his parents’ Edwardsburg-area house …

A 30-year-old White Pigeon man was injured in a single-vehicle accident last week in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called at 7:45 p.m. Thursday to the intersection of U.S. 12 and Sunset Boulevard for a roll-over accident. Deputies said Thomas Defreese, was heading west on U.S. 12, when his vehicle drove off the right side of the …

State Rep. Aaron Miller will be in Dowagiac Saturday to help recognize a member of the city’s fire department. During a ceremony at 1 p.m., Miller will take part in a tribute to James Carpenter. Carpenter has been named the department’s “Firefighter of the Year.” Miller plans to present Carpenter a state tribute for his service to the Dowagiac community.

Two Marcellus residents were arrested on drug-related charges Wednesday following an investigation by the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team. Detectives served a search warrant in the 100 block of West North Street in Marcellus after an investigation provided suspicion that the use of methamphetamine was taking place there. Detectives located methamphetamine paraphernalia, and detained a-36-year-old male and 30-year-old female. They …

Dep. MaKenzie Kreiner of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has been selected as the 2015 Child Passenger Safety Technician of the Year by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. The annual recognition program, now in its second year, honors those who serve as an example to other technicians by educating families about the proper installation and use of car …

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael E. Dodge announced this week he will not be a candidate for re-election this year. Dodge will be leaving the post he has held since early 1982 due to mandatory retirement provisions in the Michigan constitution. According the state constitution, judges are no longer eligible for re-election once they reach age 70. Dodge has served …

A Cass County man faces up to 15 years in prison after he was taken into custody for fleeing the scene of a fatal accident. Edwardsburg Police Chief Tim Kozal said Brett Gilpin, 25, whose prior community of residence included Edwardsburg, was arrested Thursday by the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team. He was taken to the Cass County Jail on …