WEXFORD COUNTY

HARING TOWNSHIP, MI – The body of an unidentified woman was discovered by a waste disposal worker in Wexford County on Wednesday, Dec. 14, WPBN/WGTU reports. The worker found the body in Haring Township, the report said. The identity of the deceased woman and the cause of death are unknown at this time, the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office said. The investigation is ongoing, police said. READ MORE:Woman accused of not telling firefighters about toddler inside burning homeFormer Boy Scout leader gets 12 to 20 years for sexual abuseMan accused of antisemitic threats at preschool charged with lying to purchase firearms

CADILLAC, MI – An invasive plant has tripled its coverage of Lake Cadillac in Wexford County compared to a year ago, experts said. Most years there’s about 30-40 acres of Eurasian watermilfoil on the lake but that more than tripled this year to 140 acres, according to Restorative Lake Sciences, which recently conducted its annual survey of Lake Cadillac, WPBN/WGTU reports. Milfoil can shade-out native aquatic plants, reduce oxygen levels, and interfere with fish predation and recreational use. RELATED: An invasive weed is choking Spring Valley Lake in KalamazooCadillac City Council agreed this week to spend $90,000 to use chemicals to kill the plant, the report said. READ MORE:First freeze coming soon: See average freeze dates for your closest Michigan cityWhere’s the center of Michigan’s population?

A Michigan man is facing charges for driving drunk, having a weapon and possessing meth after troopers pulled him over for going 103 mph on the highway, officials said.

Michigan authorities are investigating how a piece of equipment that helps disabled voters mark a ballot wound up for sale online.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Police arrested a 27-year-old Cadillac-area man in a robbery at the Fifth Third Bank on 10 Mile Road near Belmont Avenue, Kent County sheriff’s deputies said. Sheriff’s detectives and state police used a search warrant on Sunday, Aug. 28, at the man’s Wexford County home, resulting in the arrest. Related: Bank robbery suspect at large in Kent CountyThe suspect is expected to be arraigned on a bank-robbery charge in 63rd District Court. The robbery happened just after 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, in Algoma Township. Read more:Police identify man struck, killed while walking across U.S. 31Duo makes history by becoming first all-female fire crew in their department’s historyNew COVID vaccine booster coming soon, how it will be different

A 46-year-old man was taken into custody after getting naked, dancing, and doing pushups while holding a gun in the middle of a Michigan highway, police said.

A Michigan man has been charged with stalking after he pretended to be a police officer while calling his ex-wife, officials said.

LANSING, MI – Michigan residents around the state should be aware that the Department of Natural Resources has scheduled for prescribed burns in the Lower Peninsula. The controlled fires planned for Tuesday are to improve wildlife habitat, according to the DNR. Burns are planned in Allegan County’s Valley Township, Oakland County’s White Lake Township, Otsego County Corwith Township and Wexford County’s Greenwood Township. In Otsego County, a fire was started at noon to improve wildlife habitat for deer, elk and turkeys on 123 acres. Prescribed burns are one way the DNR keeps lands and forests healthy, according to a news release.

For 20 years, chickens have been at Lisa Platz's backyard hobby farm in Wexford County. But after avian flu struck in April 2022, more than 60 birds were killed to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus. (Photo provided by Kristen Watt)

A Michigan woman was arrested after police found methamphetamine in a Toy Story tin under the seat of a car that was pulled over for not having a registration plate, officials said.

A Michigan man has been arrested after a woman caught him stealing marijuana plants from her property, police said.

A Michigan driver traveling with his 9-year-old child was caught with methamphetamine after state police pulled him over for an equipment violation, officials said.

CADILLAC, MI - The Michigan State Police (MSP) Cadillac Post initiated a traffic stop on Saturday, April 2 that turned into a drug-related arrest in Wexford County. MSP troopers stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation around 12:30 a.m. on River Street near Mitchell in Cadillac. According to police, the man had his 9-year-old child with him and the child was seated in the patrol car during the investigation. The Evart man was subsequently arrested and lodged in the Wexford County Jail. The man remains lodged pending arraignment in the 84th District Court in Wexford County.

A Michigan father called police to tell them his adult son was sending nude photos of himself to a minor, according to authorities.

Three teenagers have been charged with multiple felonies for using threats, intimidation and sextortion as part of an Instagram cyberbullying scheme targeting Michigan students, police said.

HANOVER TWP, MI — Police are investigating a homicide in Wexford County’s Hanover Township. Deputies arrived to find a male suffering from at least one gunshot wound. A 19-year-old male suspect left the scene before deputies arrived, having fled in a red van or SUV. Deputies believe the suspect is armed with a small-caliber semi-automatic handgun and should be considered armed and dangerous. Read more:Police investigating apparent murder-suicide of Saginaw County mother and her sonSaginaw Township man charged with murder in wife’s fatal shooting

Postal Service worker died after a two-vehicle crash on M-115 in Wexford County on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 23, police said. In the process, the postal service vehicle pulled out in front of a semi-truck that was also traveling southeast and was struck, surveillance video shows. Postal Service vehicle was struck by a semi-truck on M-115 in Clam Lake Township, Mich. on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2021. Postal Service vehicle was struck by a semi-truck on M-115 in Clam Lake Township, Mich. on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2021. The postal worker, who later died, was attempting to make a U-turn, police said.Michigan State PoliceThe semi-truck driver, a 60-year-old Hershey man, was taken to Munson Hospital in Cadillac and later released, police said.

A woman accused of stabbing her mother in Michigan during an argument over smoking in the car has been arraigned.

A woman stabbed her mother in Michigan after they had been arguing for an entire trip, and a dispute over smoking in the car was the breaking point, state police said.

Crews from the DNR are currently battling a 425-acre fire -- a total perimeter of about 5.2 miles -- in Northern Michigan.

Crews from the DNR are currently battling a 425-acre fire -- a total perimeter of about 5.2 miles -- in Northern Michigan.

CLAM LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Michigan man who was caught with methamphetamine gave police a fake name, but the person whose name he used had active felony warrants, so he was arrested anyway, according to officials. A 29-year-old Cadillac woman was in the driver’s seat and a 30-year-old Lawton man was in the front passenger seat, police said. The fake name the man used belonged to someone who had an active warrant out for his arrest, so they took the Lawton man into custody, officials said. AdDuring the arrest, troopers found about 27 grams of meth inside the man’s pants, according to police. (Michigan State Police)Several pop cans and lottery tickets were found on the ground outside the vehicle, police said.

MANTON, Mich. – A Manton man was sentenced to prison recently for sexually assaulting two minors, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday. Helsel pleaded guilty in July to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, involving a person between the ages of 13 and 15, a felony carrying up to 15 years in prison. As part of this plea, four charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct were dismissed at sentencing. He also pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, multiple variables, carrying up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. A charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct was dropped at sentencing as part of this plea.

A Manton man will serve between five and 15 years in prison after he was convicted of criminal sexual conduct involving two minors. In exchange for pleading to those charges, four charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct were dropped at sentencing. Helsel was sentenced on Oct. 6 in Wexford County 28th Circuit Court and will be allowed to serve both sentences concurrently. Helsel sexually assaulted the minors involved in the cases between September 2018 and July 2019 in Wexford County’s Cedar Creek Township, according to a release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office. Helsel was originally charged in January in the case before entering his guilty plea in July.

SELMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. A 71-year-old man who went missing Friday afternoon was discovered in northern Michigan woods early Saturday morning. Police said a 71-year-old man left his home at about 3 p.m. for a daily walk and never returned. The Michigan State Police Cadillac Post K-9 Team was asked to help locate the missing man and started searching just before midnight. The man was found by dogs at about 1 a.m. Police said he was unconscious and extremely cold, so authorities wrapped him in emergency blankets. MORE: Missing in Michigan

CADILLAC, Mich. The Michigan State Police Cadillac Post welcomed its newest member to the team Friday. A female Labrador Retriever named LuLu recently graduated from canine school and is ready to serve. LuLu received specialized training and is a single purpose dog. She is from Hungary and received six weeks of specialized training tracking explosives, said LuLus handler, Trooper Unterbrink. Police use Labrador Retrievers while an event is taking place due to their friendly demeanor and ability to move through crowds with ease.