Sarnia police reported a late-night stabbing on Devine Street last Tuesday, leaving a 17-year-old girl injured on her arm and back. Officers say the incident began as a personal dispute that turned physical. An 18-year-old woman barricaded herself in a nearby home but surrendered peacefully after police, including the K-9 and Emergency Response teams, arrived with a warrant. The teen was treated at a local hospital and is in stable condition. Alivia Martin-Read faces three charges and remains in police custody.

Marlette residents will decide the fate of recreational marijuana businesses in the August election. Last week, the city council hit pause on all pot shop rules and applications after a petition made the ballot. The proposal would completely ban recreational dispensaries and grows inside city limits. If voters say yes to the ban, only the existing medical marijuana grow on Karen Street stays; nothing new opens. If voters reject it, the council will move forward with strict rules allowing a limited number of pot businesses.

In St. Clair County, the Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center has grown from a small support group to one of the region’s largest recovery organizations. The peer-led center offers free meetings, coaching, and community events, helping hundreds each week connect with treatment, housing, and support services. Last Tuesday about 400 people attended BWROC’s annual banquet, celebrating recovery and raising an estimated $30,000 for programs. Staff with lived experience guide participants through challenges beyond addiction, emphasizing that recovery is possible and no one should face it alone.

The St. Clair County murder trial of Wyatt Stimac is now in the jury’s hands after both sides rested their cases Thursday. Prosecutors played Stimac’s interview where he admitted following his father into the garage and firing five shots. The defense argued the killing wasn’t planned and should not be first-degree murder. A knife-related charge was dismissed, but the main charge stays. Jurors returned Friday for instructions and closing arguments. Stimac faces life in prison if convicted, plus two years for the firearm.

The East Bernard Brahmas are back in the regional finals for the first time since’19, and the entire town is buzzing. Standing in their way is top-ranked Tidehaven, the same squad that crushed East Bernard a month ago. But the Brahmas say they’ve been waiting for this rematch and expect a battle tonight at Freedom Field in Rosharon. Kickoff is 7. The winner moves on to the state semifinals. Fans from around Wharton County are planning to pack the stands and cheer their boys on as they chase a storybook playoff run.

Wharton County residents can once again burn brush and debris after officials lifted the countywide burn ban that had been in place since September 18th. Recent rainfall improved conditions enough to ease restrictions, but officials stress that residents should still use caution, especially on windy days. Wharton County wasn’t alone, as nearby Victoria, Goliad, and Jackson counties also lifted their bans this week. Locals are urged to follow safe burning practices to prevent any fire risks.

Downtown Edna will kick off the holidays Saturday with its Miracle on Main Festival, filling Main Street with lights, music, food and family fun. The day starts at 9 a.m. with the free Jingle Jog hosted by Resolve Pilates and Edna Police, who will collect toy donations. By 2 p.m., the courthouse lawn turns into a holiday market with live music. Santa will be downtown for photos, and kids can enjoy bounce houses and crafts. A baking contest winner earns a gift card and a parade ride. The Lighted Christmas Parade rolls at 6 p.m.

Last weekend Wharton County deputies made three arrests during routine traffic stops, but reported no major incidents. Late Friday night on Ogden Street, a driver was pulled over and arrested for DWI, and deputies seized a handgun. Saturday night on FM 102, another driver was taken to jail after deputies found THC in a vape cartridge. Then Sunday evening on Hodges Lane, a deputy smelled marijuana, searched the car, and found THC and a small amount of pot. All are out on bond

The Jack Frost Festival continues this weekend in downtown Ironwood, kicking off today, & culminating with the parade on Saturday, with events extending into next week. The list of activities has something for everyone, today includes the monthly First Friday celebration with vendors downtown from 4 t0 7 p.m.; be sure and check out all the decorated windows and then its “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever showing at the Historic Ironwood Theatre. Saturday, the Ironwood Chamber’s Jack Frost Raffle drawing will take place downtown from 2 to 3 pm with 10 cash prizes awarded, including the top prize of $5,000. The Festival of Lights Parade kicks off at 6 and there’ll be a Christmas concert performed by the Gogebic Range Concert Band afterward at the HIT. Sunday, there’s musical entertainment as the Luther L. Wright High School Band puts on their annual Christmas Concert at 2 p.m., at the theatre. There are a ton more events happening all weekend so be sure and check the full schedule at ironwoodchamber.org
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Bayfield County faces a privacy dispute that has become more common across the country. TheDailyPress reports at the center of the issue is Bayfield’s use of five (with one pending) Flock Safety automated license plate readers (ALPRs), installed since 2022 at an annual cost of $3,000 each. The cameras store license plate and vehicle data for 30 days in a national database accessible to subscribing law enforcement, including the FBI and ICE. Sheriff Tony Williams defends the technology as constitutional and vital for locating stolen vehicles and missing or endangered persons. Critics cite privacy, transparency, and potential government overreach, with one judge noting “serious privacy implications.” Records show improper official use, with over 400 thousand searches in July, with Bayfield County officials performing about 490 of those searches. Residents recently complained about the lack of public input regarding the cameras’ privacy implications.