Debra Haight, Author at Leader Publications

Crime/Court

Elkhart woman gets probation for Edwardsburg home invasion

CASSOPOLIS — An Elkhart woman who broke into an unoccupied home in Edwardsburg last year was given the chance to stay out of prison. Amy ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Saturday, January 11, 2025 11:55 am

Crime/Court

Dowagiac man gets probation for drunk driving

CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man was sentenced to probation Friday in the Cass County Mental Health Court program for his third drunk driving conviction. Elvis ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Friday, January 10, 2025 12:49 pm

Brandywine Education

Brandywine school board elects new officers

NILES — The Brandywine Board of Education has new leadership after Monday’s organizational meeting for the 2025 year. Board members also voted on other items ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, January 7, 2025 5:02 pm

Crime/Court

Niles man gets probation for larceny

NILES — A contractor was sentenced to probation Monday in Berrien County Trial Court after not completing a renovation job he was paid for.       ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, January 6, 2025 1:38 pm

Cassopolis

Dowagiac man gets prison time for Niles Township gas station robbery

NILES — A Dowagiac man already in prison for an armed robbery related conviction received another prison sentence in Berrien County Trial Court Monday for ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, December 31, 2024 9:04 am

Crime/Court

Illinois man gets jail time in Niles Saylor’s Pizza crash

NILES — The man who crashed into Saylor’s Pizza on the city’s west side in late September was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, December 30, 2024 2:51 pm

Crime/Court

Dowagiac man gets probation for meth possession

CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man was sentenced to probation for possession of methamphetamines Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. Kyle Christopher Gagiliardo, 40, of Dowagiac, ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, December 23, 2024 2:03 pm

Cass County

Cass County commissioners deadlock over pay raises

CASSOPOLIS — Cass County Commissioners won’t be getting a pay raise over the next four years after commissioners deadlocked Thursday on a vote to increase ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Friday, December 20, 2024 5:35 pm

Cassopolis

Cassopolis man gets prison time for resisting police

NILES — A Cassopolis man was sentenced to prison Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. Michael Ray Brown, 56, of Cassopolis, pleaded guilty to resisting ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, December 16, 2024 3:02 pm

Crime/Court

Dowagiac man gets jail time for meth use, destruction of property

NILES — A Dowagiac man was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court on meth and malicious destruction of property charges stemming from an incident ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Wednesday, December 11, 2024 1:35 pm

Brandywine Education

Brandywine considers ending adult education program

NILES — The Brandywine Adult Education program could be ending at the end of the school year if Brandywine Board of Education members follow a ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Wednesday, December 11, 2024 9:52 am

Cassopolis

Niles man gets jail time for firearms, ammunition possession

CASSOPOLIS — A Niles man found to be in possession of guns and ammunition in Howard Township as a convicted felon was sentenced to jail ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, December 10, 2024 12:02 pm

Local Government

Buchanan receives good financial news

BUCHANAN — The city of Buchanan is in good financial shape, auditor Brian Hake told Buchanan City Commissioners Monday night. Hake, who is with the ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, December 10, 2024 11:35 am

Crime/Court

Niles man gets jail time for Lowe’s retail fraud

NILES — A Niles man is going to jail for retail fraud after being sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. Steven Paul Hover, 56, ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, December 9, 2024 4:38 pm

Berrien County

Speedway shooting suspect in court for preliminary hearing

NILES — A Niles man charged in connection with a November shooting outside of a Niles Township gas station appeared Tuesday in a preliminary hearing ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Wednesday, December 4, 2024 10:30 am

Crime/Court

Woman sentenced for tampering with evidence in fatal Eau Claire shooting

NILES — An area resident has pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and will be sentenced in late January. Elizabeth Deanne Harper, 43, of Stevensville, ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Wednesday, December 4, 2024 9:21 am

Crime/Court

Niles man sentenced on attempted assault charge

NILES — A Niles man who pointed a gun at someone and threatened to shoot them in the head was sentenced Monday in Berrien County ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 9:19 am

Crime/Court

Niles man sentenced for threatening wife with knife

NILES — A Niles man who threatened his wife with a small knife was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. Babbu Singh, 56, of ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, December 2, 2024 2:05 pm

Buchanan

Buchanan to draft contract with Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber

BUCHANAN — Buchanan City Commissioners are looking to establish a new relationship with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber to revitalize economic development work in the ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 2:32 pm

Buchanan

Buchanan selects new city manager

BUCHANAN — Tony McGhee has been selected as the new Buchanan City Manager after a second round of interviews Monday. McGhee was one of three ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:13 am

Buchanan

Buchanan City Commission narrows city manager search

BUCHANAN — Then there were three. Buchanan City Commissioners have chosen their top three candidates to become the city’s next City Manager. The city received ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Saturday, November 23, 2024 11:00 am

Brandywine Education

Brandywine gets clean bill of financial health

NILES — The Brandywine school district has received a clean bill of financial health, Brandywine Board of Education members learned Monday. Besides the audit report, ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Tuesday, November 19, 2024 1:00 pm

Buchanan

Buchanan City Commission to interview city manager candidates

BUCHANAN — Buchanan City Commissioners will interview four people including two area residents on Friday, Nov. 22 as they search for a new manager. A ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, November 18, 2024 7:56 am

Community News

Junior Farm Bureau presents plaque to Berrien County Youth Fair Association

BERRIEN SPRINGS — When young people from farm families across Berrien County got together 70 and 80 years ago, they likely didn’t realize the impact ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Monday, November 4, 2024 12:41 pm

Crime/Court

Dowagiac men get prison time on drug charges

CASSOPOLIS — A pair of relatives from Dowagiac were sentenced to prison Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. Cousins Israel and Roberto Reyna were sentenced ... Read more

by Debra Haight, Friday, November 1, 2024 3:51 pm

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