A 17-year-old student was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 11, after allegedly assaulting a staff member at Matapeake Middle School and leaving campus without permission, prompting lockdowns at three nearby schools, authorities said. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office said a school resource officer responded to a report of an assault involving the special programs student and a family staff member. The student left the school grounds following the incident. Three schools — Matapeake Middle School, Matapeake Elementary School and Kent Island High School — were placed on precautionary lockdown while law enforcement searched for the student, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools interim Superintendent Matthew A. Kibler said in a letter to families. Deputies established a perimeter and located the student a short time later without incident, the sheriff’s office said. The student was taken into custody.

To find new council members for Wards 3 and 4, the Chestertown Mayor and Council have decided they will hold a special election at the beginning of the year. The Kent County News reports Mayor David Foster said this is a chance for citizens to engage in their community with issues they feel strongly about by throwing their hat into the ring. But they have a limited time to act. Potential candidates in Town cannot wait for the holidays to wind down. They have until Friday, Dec. 19 no later than 5 p.m. to submit their application on the town’s website.

Thirteen students from the St. Clair County Technical Education Center (TEC) showcased their skills at the Region 7 HOSA Competition on December 5th at Saginaw Valley State University. Competing against 14 other schools, TEC students participated in 11 healthcare events after weeks of preparation. Six students earned top honors and will advance to the Michigan State HOSA Conference in April, including Marysville’s Braylon Rogan and Jaden Cole, and Yale and St. Clair students Julia Ferguson, Leah Francek, Stella Raymo, and Amelia Waidelich.

A Florida man has been sentenced in Tuscola County for a deadly September crash that killed three members of the Putnam family. 55-year-old Pavel B. Shchukin received one year in jail for each of three moving violation causing death charges and was ordered to pay $1,425 in fines and court costs. The charges follow a crash on September 26 in Ellington Township, where Shchukin’s semi-truck ran a stop sign at Hurds Corner and Deckerville Roads, hitting the family’s Jeep.

In Tuscola County’s Kingston village, a police encounter ended in a shooting last Tuesday night. Michigan State Police troopers were called to a Koylton Township home around 8:30 p.m. to take a 54-year-old man into custody under a court-ordered mental health hold. When officers found him in a vehicle, the man reportedly pulled a weapon, prompting shots to be fired. A sergeant was injured in the hand, treated, and released, while the man died at the scene. MSP’s investigative and crime teams are handling the case, which remains active.

Enter Stage Right in Port Huron is gearing up for a fresh take on “Little Women,” opening Jan. 9th at the Citadel Theatre on Huron Avenue. The show runs weekends through Jan. 25th, with evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays and matinees on Sundays. Director Amy Fabick says this modernized adaptation highlights all four March sisters and adds quicker pacing and humor while keeping the heart of the classic. Tickets are $20 online, and the theater may add extra shows if demand remains high.

Texas Seafood in Victoria is preparing once again to serve hot meals to the homeless on Christmas Day, continuing an eight-year tradition that began after Hurricane Harvey. Owner Ben Pham says he wants to “keep a little corner of Victoria warm” by offering comfort to those who have nowhere else to go. The effort has grown into a major event, with more than 30 volunteers last year and a call for even more helping hands this season. Anyone wanting to help can contact Texas Seafood in Victoria.

Ganado is gearing up for its ninth annual Car Show and Christmas in the Park Market on Friday, December 19, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Devers Creek Park. Organizers say every dollar raised goes toward scholarships for Ganado’s ’26 graduates. The event will feature dozens of cars, trucks, and specialty entries, with awards at 8 p.m. More than 40 vendors and food trucks will line a festive “Candy Cane Lane,” along with games, rides, and a visit from Santa at 6 p.m.

The Plaza Theatre in downtown Wharton honored longtime board member Henry Baade for two decades of volunteer service. Baade officially stepped down after the November annual meeting, closing a chapter marked by major upgrades he helped lead, including weatherproofing the building, repairing the iconic marquee, and expanding the Stage Door area for more lobby and restroom space. Theatre leaders praised Baade for keeping the historic venue safe and welcoming. Baade and his wife Mary remain active supporters and familiar faces at local productions.

Wharton County residents living outside El Campo, Wharton and East Bernard will be allowed to launch fireworks this holiday season, thanks to safe drought levels. County Judge Phillip Spenrath said the county’s drought index is low enough to permit aerial fireworks, but he urged everyone to be extremely careful. Local fire chiefs reminded families to keep fireworks away from dry grass, animals and nearby homes. They also warned never to relight fireworks or use them indoors. Anyone who causes damage or injuries can face civil or criminal penalties.