Cass County

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced office hours for an informal gathering later this month in Cass County. Miller invites residents to join him 8 to 9 a.m. March 30 at the Broadway Café, 158 S.  Broadway St., in Cassopolis. Miller said connecting face-to-face with people in communities throughout the district is one of the most rewarding aspects of being …

A motorcyclist was critically injured after a car pulled into its path last week in Cass County’s Pokagon Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the incident occurred at 2:10 p.m. Friday at the intersection of M-51 and Peavine Street. Investigators said 34-year-old Troy Duis was driving his motorcycle south on M-51 when a vehicle driven by Alexis Chorba, 16, of Dowagiac, …

A 38-year-old Cass County man was arrested Tuesday after leading authorities on a vehicle chase and foot chase before being apprehended after breaking into a residence. Detectives conducting surveillance in the community of Union noticed a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of U.S. 12 and Kessington Street. The driver of the vehicle drove several miles before abandoning the car outside …

The Michigan House this week approved a state grant to make the Dodd Park Water Trail in Cass County more accessible. State Rep. Aaron Miller said the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant is included in House Bill 5377 to install new, barrier-free fixtures at the trail. The $277,000 project development grant is one of 44 such recommendations made by …

Two people were arrested on drug-related offenses last week following an investigation by the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team. Detectives last Friday executed a search warrant in the 100 block of North O’Keefe Street in the village of Cassopolis. Once inside the residence, investigators found four, one-pot methamphetamine labs, an undisclosed quantity of meth, meth paraphernalia, multiple components used in …

Dowagiac resident Richard Behnke is announcing his intent to pursue the nomination for Cass County sheriff. A lifelong resident of Cass County, Behnke has been in law enforcement for 30 years, beginning in the village of Marcellus in 1986. He has served the past twenty-nine years at the Cass County Sheriff’s office. During his career, he served as a deputy …

Two men in separate incidents fell through ice on lakes in Cass County over the weekend. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said the first incident was reported at 1:39 p.m. Saturday at Bogart Lake in Jones, where a man fell through the ice but managed to crawl out of the water and reach shore. He refused assistance and was taken …

A 34-year-old Cass County man was arrested on drug-related charges following a traffic stop Wednesday. Members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team pulled over the suspect’s vehicle near Guyer Road and Union Road, as the driver was under investigation for suspected manufacturing of methamphetamine. A search was conducted on the vehicle and detectives located methamphetamine, marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia. …

A Cassopolis man this week testified before the House Committee on Energy Policy in support of legislation authored by state Rep. Aaron Miller, urging Congress to allow spent nuclear waste to be recycled. Taras Lyssenko, general manager of A & T Recovery in Cassopolis, told the committee that the process to recycle and reuse spent nuclear fuel is available, and …

A longtime fixture in Cass County has announced he will not seek re-election later this year to another four-year term. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. stated in a media release he plans to retire after 40 years in law enforcement. He has served as sheriff the past 24 years. Underwood said he spent a significant amount of time weighing the decision …