Cass County

Evidence of methamphetamine production was uncovered during a pair of raids at two residences last week in Cass County. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team on Aug. 13 searched a residence in the 69000 block of Cassopolis Road in Mason Township and another in the 67000 block of Calvin Center Road in Calvin Township. A search of the properties found …

A woman believed to be in her 20s staged an all-day protest Wednesday related to tree-clearing in Cass County’s Newburg Township. After nearly 10 hours on a plywood platform about 40 feet up a tree, the woman came down around 6:30 p.m. Her descent came after lengthy negotiations that involved the Cass County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police. …

The Michigan Department of Transportation has issued a traffic advisory for motorists in Cass County. The agency said single-lane closures on M-40 between M-60 and U.S. 12 will be under flag control for a repaving project. MDOT says the undertaking will be completed at the end of September.

State Rep. Matt Lori last week announced a $400,000 Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant has been awarded to the village of Cassopolis for on-the-job training for 40 new employees at Postle Operating. Postle is a producer of aluminum products for recreational vehicles and is expanding the company’s production capabilities, which will create the jobs during the next two years. The …

A Cass County man and his wife were arraigned last week on methamphetamine charges, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. Blaine and Kristina Knight, ages 40 and 30 respectively, were charged with possession of meth, manufacturing math and maintaining a drug house. The two were arrested Thursday after neighbors reported suspicious activity at their residence in the 56000 block …

The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees adopted the college’s 2013-2014 operating budget during its June 17 meeting held on the Dowagiac campus. The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is a balanced budget of $22,824,000. Board Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews said, “Southwestern Michigan College has adopted a structurally balanced budget each and every year since the …

Nine fire departments, including six from St. Joseph County, responded to a commercial blaze Wednesday in Cass County’s Newberg Township. The manufacturing section of Southern Michigan Rubber Co., located on M-60 near the St. Joseph County line, was destroyed by the afternoon blaze. Company officials indicated the fire appeared to have started near the rear of the building in a …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant Wednesday in the 400 block of Walnut Street in the city of Dowagiac. During a search of the residence, detectives located a marijuana-growing operation, along with individually packaged marijuana intended for sale. Detectives also located a loaded, sawed-off shotgun and numerous other items used for the sale of illegal narcotics. …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team seized firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana, illegally-obtained prescription drugs and meth-lab components in a search of a Porter Township residence last week. According to Cass County officials, Blayne Wolf, 47, and Barbara Balentine, 52, were arrested following the 6:30 p.m. raid Thursday in the 13000 block of Carter Lake Street, near the community of Union. Wolf …

A citizen’s tip led the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team last week to a Porter Township residence, where marijuana and hashish were discovered. Sheriff Joe Underwood said a report of suspected illegal activity at a residence in the 15000 block of U.S. 12 led detectives to the address around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. After investigators discovered the drugs, 27-year-old Melissa Goodman …