News

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 …

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 …

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 …

The state of Michigan is hiring a mental health agency to conduct an independent review of the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, which is under scrutiny over patient safety. The state Community Health Department said Monday that Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services will do an evaluation focusing on inpatient care and the hospital’s organizational structure and staff. The review is expected …

A 10-year-old boy was struck and killed early Sunday near the intersection of U.S. 131 and West Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. The boy, Trenton Holtslander, a 15-year-old sibling and their father were walking across U.S. 131 in the 100 block. The victim dropped something and as he went back to retrieve it, he was struck by a northbound van …

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by six-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 4.6 percent October unemployment rate was less than September’s 5.2 percent. October’s unemployment rate was 2.6 percent less than the same month one year earlier, …

Two Cass County men were arrested on drug-related offenses last week in Volinia Township. Members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team were called to assist parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections. At 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, they assembled outside a residence in the 16000 block of Dutch Settlement Road. Detectives located methamphetamine components, meth paraphernalia, marijuana and firearms …