Cass County

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 …

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 …