News

An out-of-state resident was injured after he was involved in a three-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 10 a.m. Friday to the intersection of Decatur Road and Kelsey Lake Street, where 19-year-old Jason Thrasher of Jasper, Ind., had failed to stop his vehicle at a stop sign. He was …

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 …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education has approved calendars for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. In each case, the district will begin the school year on Monday prior to Labor Day. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said calendars had been built collaboratively with staff and also after surveying parents of elementary and junior/senior high students. Lemmer said a before-Labor Day start …

Have you ever wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of youth and young adults living in urban areas such as Kalamazoo? GFM The Synergy Center has been doing just that. For over 13 years, GFM The Synergy Center has been the preferred provider of culturally sensitive counseling programs for mental health, substance abuse and support services in …

Members of the St. Joseph County Road Commission earlier this month discussed the funding the agency receives from the county. The allocation had previously been $191,000 for bridges, but is now reduced to $76,000 and designated for work on bridges and failed roads. The money will go toward the local agency portion of a state safety grant to repair on …

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 St. Joseph County United Way is appealing to the public in an effort to raise funds for a pair of flood victims. Executive director Kelly Hostetler said one house needs a new furnace. The owner, an elderly woman, was taken to the hospital recently for treatment from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her basement has six inches of standing water and …