DRUG LAB RAISES A STINK

But Raid Surprises Wakelee Residents

WAKELEE--Detective Robert Babcock of the Cass County Drug Enforcement
Team smelled methamphetamines as he pulled into the small town of
Wakelee on Wednesday afternoon.

It was 2:45 p.m., and the Cass County Sheriff's Department had
received an anonymous call that methamphetamines were being
manufactured in a home on the 1600 block of Dutch Settlement Road in
Wakelee.

"When we drove within 150 yards of the trailer, we were overwhelmed by
the smell," Babcock said, comparing the intensity of the smell to the
ethanol smell that sometimes lurks in the South Bend area. "It's a
very distinct chemical smell. It's so intense I've had a dead nose
since -- I can't smell anything."

The South Haven-based South West Enforcement team was called to help
out with breaking down a possible clandestine lab.

Dowagiac and Penn Township fire departments were called in case the
chemicals from the lab ignited, thus possibly causing an explosion
throughout the town, Babcock said.

When police went into the home, they allegedly discovered 450
marijuana plants, $500 worth of methamphetamines and a clandestine
lab, which authorities believe to be one of the largest in southwest
Michigan history.

"This lab had the capability of producing a significant amount of
methamphetamines," Babcock said.

The street value of the seized marijuana was estimated at $450,000,
authorities said.

But while this was all happening, Ed Thornburgh, who lives
catty-corner to the home, was mowing his lawn. As he and many other
Wakelee residents believe, there's no reason to meddle in other
people's businesses.

"They've always been good neighbors to me. Never bothered me,"
Thornburgh said of Willard Jeffries and Maria Jo Kimble, the Wakelee
couple that reside in the seized home and were arrested Wednesday for
alleged methamphetamine manufacturing.

"As long as nobody in the community was hurt, I don't see what the big
deal is. They kept to themselves. They didn't bother anybody."

Kimble, 33, posted $5,000 bond Friday after being charged with
possession of methamphetamines with intent to deliver. Jeffries
remains at the Cass County Jail on $20,000 bond after being charged
with manufacturing methamphetamines and marijuana.

A preliminary hearing for the two will be held Monday at the Cass
District Court, according to Joann Sepic, investigator for the Cass
County prosecutor's office.

And even though Wakelee is a rural town sitting among the cornfields
and woods of Cass County, several of the 63 residents of the town are
wondering what might have happened if the chemicals ignited.

After all, not far away from the raided trailer is a playground where
neighborhood children play and Wakelee United Methodist Church.

"The fact that I live two houses down from where this happened shows
you have to have faith when you live in a world we live in," said Greg
Buchner, pastor at Wakelee United Methodist Church.

So were locals aware that methamphetamines were being manufactured in
their town?

"Most people around here had some idea that drug activity was
occurring, but we didn't know when and where," Buchner said. "But then
again, if you asked residents what a meth lab was, many of them
wouldn't know.

"And now many of them are shocked that something like this made it
into this town."

And neighbors never had any reason to believe illegal activity was
going on, Thornburgh said. There wasn't any unusual traffic at the
house, they never made any noise and things were never stolen in the
town, he said.

"This is a town where you leave your homes unlocked and people watch
out for each other," Thornburgh said.

Thornburgh said he smelled something unusual two weeks ago that
smelled like a burning mattress, but a lot of people burn things in
the neighborhood.

Buchner agrees that he never smelled anything to raise suspicion. In
fact, he said all you could smell in town was farm animals.

Methamphetamines can be made with household items or articles bought
in hardware or fertilizer stores, though the hardware and fertilizer
stores in Marcellus said they haven't seen any suspicious activity.

"When something like this happens it really hits home," Buchner said.
"I think we'll start watching our neighbors more closely. Watching
each other's kids."

"I don't think people realize how serious of a problem
methamphetamines are."

The high with methamphetamines causes increased aggressiveness and
violence, while lasting almost a full day, Babcock said.

The family of Willard Jeffries didn't wish to comment more than saying
they loved him and supported him.

Phil Harrison, the attorney for Kimble and Jeffries, declined comment
last week.