Government

Two Niles residents were seriously injured after the dirt bike on which they were riding struck a deer. Cass County sheriff deputies said the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Friday in the area of Wells Street and Reynolds Road in Pokagon Township. Deputies were called to Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac, where two subjects were dropped off by a …

An Indiana man was arrested on drug-related charges this week in Cass County. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, in conjunction with the Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department, executed a search warrant Wednesday in the 70000 block of Kenmore Drive. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered methamphetamine, marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia. A 41-year-old man from Goshen was charged with possession …

State police are investigating a residential burglary in Branch County’s Union Township, where seven firearms were stolen. The incident occurred between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Mauer Road. A department media release did not indicate the manner in which access into the residence was gained.

Dave Pagel has filed to run for the 21st State Senate seat. He is currently in his third term representing the 78th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. Pagel is running to succeed Sen. John Proos, who is unable to run again because of term limits. The 21st District includes all of Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties. Pagel …

A Branch County home-invasion incident was interrupted when the owner of the residence shot and struck one of the three would-be intruders. State police said the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of Berlew Road in Algansee Township, where the suspects broke out windows and attempted to break-in through the front door. After the homeowner fired …

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department investigated a single-vehicle rollover incident that occurred this week in Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said 29-year-old Duquawn Edwards, of Goshen, was driving around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on M-40 near Hoffman Road. Edwards told deputies he fell asleep and his vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest on the other side of the road, …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging’s advisory board has agreed to name the new Three Rivers senior center/ housing project. It also voted to rename the Sturgis Enrichment Center. During last week’s COA meeting, the board chose “Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence” as the name for the new Three Rivers site. Meanwhile, “Oaks Enrichment Center” is the new name for …

A northern Indiana police officer who shot and critically wounded a man reportedly opened fire after the man hit and scratched his face. Police records identify the South Bend officer as Samuel Chaput and the wounded man as 27-year-old Terrance Eppenger of South Bend. The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit says officers were called to the scene Tuesday evening …

A Sturgis Township juvenile is suspected of stealing a lawn mower earlier this week. State police said a riding mower was stolen between 3 and 6 p.m. Monday from the vicinity of Balk Road and U.S. 12 in Sturgis Township. A woman notified central dispatch around 6 p.m. to advise authorities her son was in possession of the mower believed …

An Edwardsburg woman was injured after the car she was driving went off the roadway and struck a tree in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were notified at 11:55 a.m. Monday that a personal-injury crash had occurred on Shavehead Lake Road near M-40. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered 57-year-old Karen Pierucki, was driving westbound when the …