The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the deer hunting harvest was down this year from last year during firearm season. According to preliminary estimates, the DNR says the number of deer killed appears to have decreased in all regions this year, but particularly in the Upper Peninsula. DNR biologists estimate that the harvest was down about 30 to 40 …

Uldeen L. Justice-Henry, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, at ThurstonWoods Village. She was born Sept. 16, 1924, in Florence Township, a daughter of the late Lowell L. and Aletha Irene (Hammond) Wadsworth. Mrs. Justice-Henry called Sturgis her home for the past 20 years, coming from Centreville. In 1942, Uldeen married Ireland Justice Jr. in Centreville. …

Two weeks from this Thursday is Christmas. The next couple of weeks will be filled with the usual Christmas parties. My wife and I will attend our share. We’re both retired, so she’ll not be attending any school parties, and I won’t be attending any company gatherings. We will attend several Christmas parties hosted by various Lions Clubs in our …

Schoolcraft Middle School was on lockdown for about 90 minutes Monday after a student found a small-caliber bullet in the hallway. According to Schoolcraft Police Chief Bryan Campbell, the department was alerted to the situation at 11:30 a.m. The school was then placed on administrative lockdown. A search of the building was conducted by school staff, and police personnel from …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Lockport Township in response to reports of malicious destruction of property incidents over the weekend. A sheriff’s department media release indicated deputies were called at 9 a.m. Saturday to the 16000 block of Woodland Drive, where someone used a pellet gun to shoot out the back windows of several vehicles.

Michigan’s House of Representatives last week approved legislation sponsored by State Rep. Matt Lori that makes boating safer on Michigan’s lakes and rivers. A pair of House bills calls for lowering the blood-alcohol content level for boaters from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, the same as operators of motor vehicles. Legislation in the package does the same for snowmobilers and …

A state grant to help refurbish rental apartments in the downtown district has been secured by the city of Three Rivers. Offered by the Michigan State Housing Authority, the $283,000 grant will be matched by nearly $90,000 from property owners. A total of six apartments will be created at three locations: 109 Portage Ave., 51 N. Main St. and 40 …

Trent A. Holtslander, age 10, of Constantine, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in Three Rivers following a tragic accident. He was born Sept. 13, 2004, in Sturgis, a son of Jason and Beth (Swihart) Holtslander. Trent was a good student in the fourth grade at Centreville Elementary School, where he excelled especially in math. He was always cheerful …

Edna L. Shimp, age 86, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Centreville resident, passed away Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, 2014, at her home. She was born Sept. 8, 1928, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Leon and Gladys (Miller) Hoover. Edna resided in the Centreville and Sturgis area most of her life and enjoyed wintering in Arizona for …

A man accused of stabbing four people while on an Amtrak train in southwest Michigan told police he began the attack after seeing a demon. Court documents released Monday show that 44-year-old Michael D. Williams told investigators he started stabbing people Friday night after he saw a man turn into a demon. Williams, of Saginaw, is being held on a …