Wade convicted of first-degree murder

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced that Jaren Wade was convicted of first-degree murder last week by a Cass County jury.

The 12-member jury found that the 21-year-old Wade murdered Darius Nickens, 29, in April 2011 in Dowagiac.

Trial testimony established that Nickens was shot once in the arm and twice in the back. The jury also convicted Wade of other charges, including carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle and three counts of felony firearms.

The trial began April 17.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 1 in front of trial Judge Michael Dodge.

Drug “Take Back” program

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. has announced his office is participating in the National Prescription Drug “Take Back” program.

The collection will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28.

The event allows people the opportunity to drop off expired and unused medication at a number of locations in Cass County, including Marcellus Township Hall.

People who cannot bring their medications to a site during the collection may drop off expired and unused prescription medications 24/7 at the Sheriff’s Office in Cassopolis.

Breaking into Elementary School

Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a breaking and entering at 7 a.m. Friday last week at Marcellus Elementary School.

It was discovered that the school, an outside greenhouse and the concession stand had been vandalized and items taken, including electronics and a small amount of money.

Marcellus School officials stated that repairs from the vandalism could cost as much as $20,000.

After nearly two weeks of investigation by sheriff’s detectives and school officials, three suspects were identified.

Detectives, who recovered some of the missing property from these suspects, are seeking charges against two 16-year-old juveniles and one adult.

The adult’s age and address will be released upon his arrest and arraignment.

Drug Enforcement Team Make Arrest

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team on Tuesday arrested two people following an investigation into methamphetamine production and stolen property in the 11000 block of Born Street in Newburg Township.

Officials said a search warrant was executed at the property and investigators located two adults inside the residence. Detectives found components to manufacture methamphetamine, used and discarded meth lab materials, methamphetamine, marijuana and meth paraphernalia, and suspected stolen property.

An adult female subject was arrested on drug-related charges, while an adult male was charged with possession of methamphetamine and loitering in a drug house.

The names, ages and addresses of the two suspects were not included in a department news release.

Woman Injured In Accident

Slippery roads are blamed for a two-vehicle accident that left a 48-year-old Marcellus woman injured.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Rosemarie Guest was traveling west on Marcellus Highway around 6 a.m. Wednesday when she lost control of her vehicle near Finch Road. Guest drove off the roadway then reentered the road, striking an oncoming vehicle, sheriff deputies said.

Guest was transported to Borgess Hospital in Dowagiac for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the second vehicle, a 34-year-old Cassopolis man, was not injured.

Students Named To SMC Honors Lists

These are the local students named to Southwestern Michigan College honors lists. On the Presidents List is Nicklas Barber, Michael Middleton, Nicholas Neppach of Constantine; Erin Brown, Zachary Gunther, Peter Steinkraus of Marcellus. On the Dean’s List is Amber Fries, Carlos Hidalgo, Kelsey Holmes, Jennifer Jones, Jonathan Morris of Constantine; Derek Bent, Corianne Fisher, Cari Gassett, Robert Ross of Jones; Jessica High, Christine Padgett, Brian Phillips, Donald Smith of Marcellus; Shayna Hovarter of Sturgis; Stephanie Alexander, Bryann Books, Chelsea Thompson of Three Rivers; Kara Feshour, Brandy Miller, Kylie Oldenburg of White Pigeon.

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