Cass County

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk offered his thanks to citizens adhering to the snow emergency Tuesday, as road commission members were able to clear key roads in the area. As a result, the travel advisory was lifted at noon Tuesday, four hours earlier than its original expiration. Balk said the emergency is declared in situations when road crews need …

A 60-year-old Cass County man died Sunday from injuries after he fell into a pile of burning leaves. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Bobby Quick was burning leaves at his home in the 2400 block of Dick Street in Howard Township just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, when he apparently lost his balance and fell into the flames. A passerby …

A 25-year-old Marcellus man was treated at Three Rivers Health for injuries he sustained in a one-car accident over the weekend in Fabius Township. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Christopher Laughlin lost control of his vehicle Saturday in the vicinity of Hoffman and Day roads. His vehicle crossed the center line, went off the roadway and struck a …

Cass County prosecutor Victor Fitz said a 15-year-old Eau Claire girl has pled guilty to driving without a valid license causing death following a June incident during which a Jones man was killed. Fitz said Sonia Sahavedra  made the plea in juvenile court last week. She was charged with the offense after she drove a car June 26 and caused …

Six area football teams, including four from St. Joseph County, qualified for the 2013 state playoffs. Pairings were announced Sunday and starting with Division 3, Sturgis managed to make the cut despite not reaching the six-win level. The 5-and-4 Trojans will play at 8-and-1 St. Joseph. In Division 6, Constantine kept its playoff streak alive, as the 5-and-4 Falcons travel …

A 35-year-old Three Rivers man suffered minor injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Lagrange Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said his office responded at 3:10 a.m. Sunday to a personal-injury crash at the intersection of Pokagon Highway and Wilberhill Road. Demetrius Pritchard was traveling south on Wilberhill in a Pontiac minivan when …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton was fined $200 on a charge of disturbing the peace, related to a July incident at the Sturgis Applebee’s. The charge was reduced from what could have been possession of a firearm while intoxicated, as Eaton was found to have had a blood-alcohol level in excess of 0.08 percent while he was in possession …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said his office investigated a single-vehicle crash that took place last week in Porter Township. Underwood said the incident occurred mid-afternoon Friday on M-217 at State Line Road. The driver, 50-year-old Brad Martin, of Vandalia, was northbound on M-217 when he lost control of his vehicle, which left the roadway and struck the Welcome …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team last week uncovered a comprehensive marijuana-growing operation in Penn Township. Investigators on Wednesday searched a barn in the 16000 block of Dutch Settlement Road and surrounding property and uncovered the operation. Detectives located numerous marijuana plants, more than five pounds of processed marijuana and a loaded firearm. Officials said the estimated street value of …

State Reps. Matt Lori and Dave Pagel announced Oronoko Township and Cass County have been awarded grants to help offset costs associated with consolidating some services. The money is part of $6 million in funding through the Competitive Grant Assistance Program, awarded to 17 local units of government across Michigan this year. Oronoko Township will receive a $28,800 grant to …