BERTRAND TOWNSHIP — Someone has been intentionally dumping trash on Red Bud Trail just north of the U.S. 12 intersection for more than a year, according to the Bertrand Township supervisor.

Steve Hicks said the trash appears along the side of the road in Bertrand Township about once every couple of weeks, although its frequency slowed during the winter.

He said it has happened three times since the start of spring, including most recently sometime Tuesday night.

Trash could be seen blowing around a field and yards in the area on Wednesday morning.

“For us, we are really concerned about it and we don’t know what to do,” Hicks said. “We don’t want it to be a negative reflection on Bertrand Township. We are out there cleaning it up.”

Hicks said he and township Clerk Don Vite have picked up enough trash to fill eight garbage bags in the past. He said most of the trash is paper, newspaper or advertisements that appear to have been hand shredded.

“We think it is deliberate, but we don’t know why someone would want to do that,” he said.

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said his department is aware of the issue and that they don’t currently have any leads.

“Hopefully someone will witness something,” he said. “It is illegal to do it and is something we don’t tolerate.”

Anyone with information about the dumping of trash on Red Bud Trail is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s department at (269) 684-5274 or submit an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-342-7867.