Cass County

Cass County authorities recovered the body of a South Bend man who drowned Monday in Kirk Lake, northeast of Vandalia. The body of Eugene Carpenter, 69, was found Monday afternoon. Cass County authorities were called to the public access of Kirk Lake about 2 p.m. after a boat was found abandoned. Officials said it appears Carpenter was attempting to launch …

Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. said his department is investigating a homicide that occurred around 1:30 p.m. Friday in the 19000 block of U.S. 12 in Mason Township. Deputies responded to a report of a person stabbed and found the victim, Martha Sexton, dead as a result of stab-related injuries. The suspect, 59-year-old Edward Hensley, is the victim’s brother. …

A black Labrador is credited with saving a 14-month-old boy from drowning Sunday in Marcellus. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, the young man slipped away from his mother as the two were headed to their garage and he wound up in the family pool. As soon as the mother realized her son was no longer with her, she …

Louis Csokasy, manager of road commissions in St. Joseph and Cass counties, said he is taking a leave of absence from both jobs starting next month in order to serve as interim administrator of Cass County. Csokasy, 64, said he was asked by Cass County officials late last week to fill the post left vacant after Charles Cleaver resigned earlier …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said a 48-year-old Three Rivers man died over the weekend in a one-vehicle accident in Marcellus Township. The incident occurred about 7 a.m. Saturday on Burlington Road, south of Marcellus Highway. Underwood said a Chevy Impala driven by John Eastes left the roadway, struck a tree and came to rest in a swampy area. …

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced that Jaren Wade was convicted of first-degree murder last week by a Cass County jury. The 12-member jury found that the 21-year-old Wade murdered Darius Nickens, 29, in April 2011 in Dowagiac. Trial testimony established that Nickens was shot once in the arm and twice in the back. The jury also convicted Wade of …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. has announced his office is participating in the National Prescription Drug “Take Back” program. The collection will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28. The event allows people the opportunity to drop off expired and unused medication at a number of locations in Cass County, including Marcellus Township Hall. People who cannot …

Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a breaking and entering at 7 a.m. Friday last week at Marcellus Elementary School. It was discovered that the school, an outside greenhouse and the concession stand had been vandalized and items taken, including electronics and a small amount of money. Marcellus School officials stated that repairs from …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team on Tuesday arrested two people following an investigation into methamphetamine production and stolen property in the 11000 block of Born Street in Newburg Township. Officials said a search warrant was executed at the property and investigators located two adults inside the residence. Detectives found components to manufacture methamphetamine, used and discarded meth lab materials, …

Slippery roads are blamed for a two-vehicle accident that left a 48-year-old Marcellus woman injured. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Rosemarie Guest was traveling west on Marcellus Highway around 6 a.m. Wednesday when she lost control of her vehicle near Finch Road. Guest drove off the roadway then reentered the road, striking an oncoming vehicle, sheriff deputies said. Guest …