Berrien County
Appeal denied for Niles man convicted of killing Dowagiac man in 2009 stabbing
NILES — The Niles man who stabbed and killed a Dowagiac man in 2009 has had his appeal for a new trial denied. The Michigan ...
Debra Haight, Author at Leader Publications
Berrien County
Trial for Buchanan man in fatal OWI crash postponed
BERRIEN COUNTY — The trial date for a Buchanan man who allegedly drove drunk and killed a Berrien County Road Department worker last July has ...
by Debra Haight, Tuesday, January 31, 2023 1:35 pm
Crime/Court
Niles man gets jail time for failing to register as sex offender
NILES — A Niles man who failed to register as a sex offender was sentenced to jail. Eric Michael Yazell, 36, of Niles, pleaded guilty to ...
by Debra Haight, Tuesday, January 31, 2023 6:00 am
Crime/Court
Niles man re-sentenced to prison on criminal sexual conduct charge
NILES — A prison sentence handed down last week was affirmed. In that case, Berrien County Trial Judge Jennifer Smith re-sentenced Taiten Leigh Polly, 22, ...
by Debra Haight, Monday, January 30, 2023 4:50 pm
Crime/Court
Dowagiac man gets jail time, probation for assaulting girlfriend
CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man who assaulted his girlfriend also received jail and probation. Deondray Henry, 21, of North Front Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty ...
by Debra Haight, Friday, January 27, 2023 7:00 pm
Crime/Court
Niles man sentenced to prison on criminal sexual conduct charge
NILES — A Niles man already in prison for criminal sexual conduct was given another prison term. Taiten Leigh Polly, 22, of Niles, pleaded guilty ...
by Debra Haight, Tuesday, January 24, 2023 4:42 pm
Brandywine Education
Brandywine community raises concerns after school board approves new committees
NILES — The Brandywine Board of Education established several new committees on curriculum, sexually explicit materials and other topics at their meeting Monday night despite ...
by Debra Haight, Tuesday, January 24, 2023 1:57 pm
Crime/Court
Niles man gets prison time for stealing brother’s vehicle
NILES – A Niles man was sentenced to prison Monday in Berrien County Trial Court for stealing his brother’s vehicle. Shannon Michael Dehne, 34, of ...
by Debra Haight, Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:57 am
Cass County
Area residents sentenced on drug, theft charges
CASSOPOLIS — Three area residents were given probationary terms on drug and theft charges Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. Michael Carpenter, 36, of Cherry ...
by Debra Haight, Sunday, January 22, 2023 11:15 am
Cass County
Area man gets 25-60 years for sexually assaulting minor
CASSOPOLIS — An area man already in prison for sexual assault was sentenced to another prison term Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. Miguel Perez, ...
by Debra Haight, Saturday, January 21, 2023 6:00 am
Buchanan
Buchanan man gets prison time for meth possession
CASSOPOLIS — A Buchanan man who didn’t appear for his sentencing for more than a year is going to prison. Donnell Blakemore, 36, of East ...
by Debra Haight, Friday, January 20, 2023 2:00 pm
Berrien County
Berrien County commissioners discuss new master plan
ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County Commissioners got a sneak peek at the county’s new master plan Thursday. The final draft of the plan is scheduled ...
by Debra Haight, Friday, January 20, 2023 12:15 pm
Cass County
Local women sentenced for theft
CASSOPOLIS — Two area women convicted of receiving and possessing stolen property were sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. Kailey Wade, 40, of an ...
by Debra Haight, Sunday, January 15, 2023 6:00 am
Cass County
Constantine man sentenced to prison for meth, tampering, fleeing police
CASSOPOLIS — A Constantine man was given three concurrent prison sentences Friday in Cass County Circuit Court for a 2022 incident that included taking people ...
by Debra Haight, Saturday, January 14, 2023 6:00 am
Cass County
Cassopolis man gets prison time for assaulting county deputies
CASSOPOLIS — A Cassopolis man who assaulted deputies in the Cass County Jail in April, 2021 was sentenced to prison Friday in Cass County Circuit ...
by Debra Haight, Friday, January 13, 2023 4:00 pm
Berrien County
Berrien County to look into Niles real estate opportunities for road department
ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County commissioners have authorized county staff to pursue buying real estate possibly in the Niles area for the Berrien County Road ...
by Debra Haight, Thursday, January 12, 2023 3:28 pm
Crime/Court
Edwardsburg man sentenced to 1 year in prison on home invasion charges
CASSOPOLIS — An Edwardsburg man who took part in two home invasions in Cassopolis and Edwardsburg in late 2021 and early 2022 was sentenced to ...
by Debra Haight, Sunday, January 8, 2023 9:30 am
Cass County
Dowagiac man gets prison time for strangling girlfriend
CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man who strangled his girlfriend in a downtown Dowagiac parking lot was sentenced to jail Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. ...
by Debra Haight, Friday, January 6, 2023 3:05 pm
Berrien County
Berrien County commissioners asked to host more night meetings
ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County Commissioners began 2023 by holding their organizational meeting with the election of officers and committee assignments. Commissioners also heard from ...
by Debra Haight, Thursday, January 5, 2023 2:24 pm
Cassopolis
Indiana man gets prison time for Niles Township vehicle theft
NILES — An Indiana man was sentenced to prison for taking a car that didn’t belong to him Thursday in Berrien County Trial Court. Charles ...
by Debra Haight, Saturday, December 31, 2022 3:00 pm
Buchanan
Buchanan man gets prison time for arson
NILES — A Buchanan man who tried to burn down his house in August was sentenced to prison. Christopher Andrew Ayers, 49, of Buchanan, pleaded ...
by Debra Haight, Friday, December 30, 2022 11:12 am
Crime/Court
Niles man gets 13 years in prison for home invasion, sexual assault
NILES — A Niles man is going to prison for the next 13 years for breaking into a home and assaulting the woman inside. He ...
by Debra Haight, Thursday, December 29, 2022 2:25 pm
Local government
Council discusses Ferry Street Resource Center work
Topics addressed at Monday’s Niles City Council meeting ranged from the upcoming wintry weather and the power outage in parts of the city earlier in ...
by Debra Haight, Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:28 am
Crime/Court
Niles man in possession of stolen motorcycle sentenced to jail, probation
A Niles man found to be in possession of a stolen motorcycle was sentenced to jail and probation Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.
by Debra Haight, Monday, December 19, 2022 7:33 pm
Crime/Court
Area residents sentences on variety of offenses
A number of area residents were sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court on assault, drunk driving, theft and weapon charges.
