Dowagiac News

08/30/2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a collaboration with the City of Dowagiac to help identify lead pipes that are used to deliver drinking water and accelerate their replacement to protect public health.

CHICAGO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a collaboration with the City of Dowagiac to help identify lead pipes that are used to deliver drinking water and accelerate their replacement to protect public health. Dowagiac is participating in EPA’s Get the Lead Out Initiative...

08/29/2024

The City of Dowagiac is making progress in its efforts to identify and plan to replace lead service lines throughout the community.

DOWAGIAC — The City of Dowagiac is making progress in its efforts to identify and plan to replace lead service lines throughout the community. Working with State and Federal agencies, the city is building an inventory of its lead service lines and developing a plan to replace them. Lead was banned...

08/28/2024

After a summer away, students from across the area returned to school this week for the 2024-2025 school year.

DOWAGIAC — After a summer away, students from across the area returned to school this week for the 2024-2025 school year. In Dowagiac, Dowagiac Union Schools students have jumped into the new year ready to learn. First-year Superintendent Greg Blomgren began the first day of school at the bus gara...

08/27/2024

For the second straight year, former Dowagiac and Ferris State University standout Caleb Murphy has made the initial 53-man roster for the Tennessee Titans.

NASHVILLE — Former Dowagiac and Ferris State University standout Caleb Murphy has once again made the initial 53-man roster for the Tennessee Titans. The second-year edge rusher was not listed among the Titans’ listed cuts after the team was forced to trim its roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. Tues...

08/26/2024

A Cassopolis antique and vintage store will soon be closing its doors.

CASSOPOLIS — A Cassopolis antique and vintage store is gearing up for its biggest sale of the year. It will also be its last. Past, Presents and More, 149 S. Broadway St., Cassopolis, announced on Facebook that it will be closing its doors next month after opening in September 2021. Owner Theresa ...

08/23/2024

The Cass County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim involved in a fatal crash that occurred Thursday in Silver Creek Township.

CASS COUNTY — Amanda Kay Huffman, 33, of Niles, has been identified as the victim of the fatal crash that occurred Thursday in Silver Creek Township, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that at approximately 11:57 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to ...

08/23/2024

The City of Dowagiac is asking residents to help imagine the future of city parks and recreation opportunities as it prepares to create its new parks and recreation plan.

DOWAGIAC — The City of Dowagiac is asking residents to help imagine the future of city parks and recreation opportunities as it prepares to create its new parks and recreation plan. A community parks and recreation plan provides a five-year framework for decisions regarding the establishment, deve...

08/23/2024

A local club is celebrating five years of educating southwest Michigan about nature’s most famous pollinator.

DOWAGIAC — A local club is celebrating five years of educating southwest Michigan about nature’s most famous pollinator. Established in 2019 by Theodore Schrader and Brad Cloutier, the Berrien/Cass Beekeepers Club is a nonprofit that merges hobby beekeepers and commercial beekeepers alike with a...

08/23/2024

One person was killed and another injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday in Silver Creek Township, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

CASS COUNTY — One person was killed and one person was injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday in Silver Creek Township, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that at approximately 11:57 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on ...

08/22/2024

A hearing has been set for next week at the Cass County courthouse on whether a recount of the results in the Penn Township Treasurer Republican nomination race should take place.

CASSOPOLIS — A hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the Cass County courthouse on whether a recount of the results in the Penn Township Treasurer Republican nomination race should take place. Incumbent Paul Rutherford filed an objection Tuesday to the recount request made last wee...

08/20/2024

The Dowagiac Area History Museum’s Eleanor Colby and Alice Lewis exhibit open house scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed to next week due to staff illness.

DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Area History Museum’s Eleanor Colby and Alice Lewis exhibit open house scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed to next week due to staff illness. The new date for the event is from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28. The exhibit will feature artwork from the museum’s col...

08/20/2024

Dowagiac Union Schools’ 2024-25 school year got off to a promising start Monday morning.

DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac Union Schools’ 2024-25 school year got off to a promising start Monday morning. During Monday’s Board of Education meeting at city hall, Superintendent Greg Blomgren discussed the district’s opening day staff meeting and breakfast held Monday morning at Dowagiac Middle Sc...

08/18/2024

A boy was injured in a single-UTV crash Sunday in Pokagon Township.

NILES — A boy was injured in a single-UTV crash Sunday in Pokagon Township. Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that Cass County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a single UTV crash on the dirt road portion Brush Lake Road at approximately 2:37 p.m. Sunday in Pokagon Township. The investigati...

08/18/2024

The revving of vintage engines filled the streets of downtown Dowagiac Saturday morning as car enthusiasts from across Michiana convened for a beloved annual event.

DOWAGIAC — The revving of vintage engines filled the streets of downtown Dowagiac Saturday morning as car enthusiasts from across Michiana convened for a beloved annual event. The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce hosted its 33nd annual Rod and Roll Classic Auto Show Saturday starting at 8 a.m....

08/16/2024

The Dowagiac Area History Museum is gearing up to host its latest open house “Eleanor and Alice: Two Dowagiac Artists” next week.

DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Area History Museum is gearing up to host its latest open house “Eleanor and Alice: Two Dowagiac Artists” from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21. The exhibit will feature artwork from the museum’s collection and from several Alice Lewis collectors in the area. The exhibi...

08/15/2024

It looks like the Aug. 6 primary election isn’t quite over for one Cass County township.

PENN TOWNSHIP — It looks like the Aug. 6 primary election isn’t quite over for one Cass County township. Cass County Clerk/Register Monica McMichael confirmed Thursday that the contest for the Republican nomination for Penn Township Treasurer ended in a tie. McMichael said that a mistake on stat...

08/15/2024

A SMC grad has taken the reins of Dowagiac Union Schools' band program.

DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac’s new band director, Benjamin VanRoekel – a 2019 Southwestern Michigan College graduate and tenor saxophonist from Paw Paw – capped his first band camp Aug. 10 previewing this fall’s halftime show. VanRoekel’s Chieftain Marching Band performed selections from John Wil...

08/12/2024

Days before hundreds of people flocked to Dr. TK Lawless Park for optimal viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower, one local astronomer was recognized for his efforts to make the county park a destination for sky lovers.

CASS COUNTY — Days before hundreds of people flocked to Dr. TK Lawless Park for optimal viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower, one local astronomer was recognized for his efforts to make the county park a destination for sky lovers. Robert Parrish, of Edwardsburg, was recognized at the Cass County ...

08/09/2024

An Elkhart man is going to prison for the next eight years after he drove while under the influence of controlled substances and crashed a stolen car in Edwardsburg last October, killing a friend who was in the passenger seat.

CASSOPOLIS — An Elkhart man is going to prison for the next eight years after he drove while under the influence of controlled substances and crashed a stolen car in Edwardsburg last October, killing a friend who was in the passenger seat. Cody Kleitz, 29, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to operating w...

08/09/2024

One of Dowagiac’s signature events is set to return to the community later this month.

DOWAGIAC — One of Dowagiac’s signature events is set to return to the community later this month. The annual Black Family Celebration will be hosted from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at Walter Ward Park in Dowagiac. The three-day event will feature community speakers, educational and career booths, basket...

08/08/2024

The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a permanent injunction and order forbidding the owner and operator of 61 Mega Liquor & Smoke stores in Indiana and Michigan from retaliating against workers who cooperate with U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigations and otherwise exercise their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

SOUTH BEND, IND. — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a permanent injunction and order forbidding the owner and operator of 61 Mega Liquor & Smoke stores in Indiana and Michigan from retaliating against workers who cooperate with U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation...

08/07/2024

A motorcycle-deer crash sent a South Bend man to the hospital with injuries Tuesday evening.

NILES — A motorcycle-deer accident sent a South Bend man to the hospital with injuries Tuesday evening. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to the crash at approximately 8:58 p.m. on Calvin Center Road near Mason Street in Mason Township. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found...

08/07/2024

Listed are the unofficial election results from Cass County for the Aug. 6 primary election with 100 percent of precincts reported.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — Listed below are the unofficial election results from Cass County for the Aug. 6 primary election with 100 percent of precincts reported. Senate (D) Elissa Slotkin – 1,599 Subscribe to Leader Publications' free newsletter Hill Harper – 536 Write-in – 7 Senate (R) Mike Ro...

08/06/2024

Community members will have an opportunity tonight to learn more about what it means to be a local police officer in Dowagiac.

DOWAGIAC — Community members will have an opportunity tonight to learn more about what it means to be a local police officer in Dowagiac. The Dowagiac Police Department is gearing up to host its annual National Night Out event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Dowagiac District Library Pavilion. ...

08/06/2024

Classic cars of all makes and models will once again roll into downtown Dowagiac next week.

DOWAGIAC — Classic cars of all makes and models will once again roll into downtown Dowagiac next week. The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce will host the 33rd annual Dowagiac Rod & Roll Classic Auto Show from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. The event will feature approximately 250 regis...

08/05/2024

Thanks to the initial success of the Dowagiac DART on Demand service, the City of Dowagiac is extending the free rides period through the month of August.

DOWAGIAC — Thanks to the initial success of the Dowagiac DART on Demand service, the City of Dowagiac is extending the free rides period through the month of August. Dowagiac DART rides requested through Ride Pingo, the free app that powers Dowagiac DART on Demand, will be free through August 31. ...

08/04/2024

Here are the results of the Cass County Fair’s Poultry Market competition.

08/03/2024

Ann Thomas took home Grand Champion in Poultry Showmanship at the Cass County Fair this week.

08/03/2024

A Dowagiac man withdrew his plea Friday in Cass County Trial Court after Trial Court Judge Mark Herman rejected the plea deal that had been reached in his case.

CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man withdrew his plea Friday in Cass County Trial Court after Trial Court Judge Mark Herman rejected the plea deal that had been reached in his case. Israel Santana Reyna, 30, of Walnut Street in Dowagiac, had pleaded guilty to second offense possession of m**hamphetamine f...

08/02/2024

Local families interested in learning more about homeschooling options will soon have an opportunity.

DOWAGIAC — Local parents interested in learning more about homeschooling options will soon have an opportunity. A group of Dowagiac area homeschool parents will be hosting a homeschool community information night from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at the Dowagiac District Library Community Room. Pa...