Columbine became a household name after two students murdered 12 classmates and one teacher and injured about two dozen more people before taking their own lives on April 20, 1999. One week ago today, Sandy Hook joined the ranks of Columbine, albeit with an even more deadly outcome. A total of 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., along with the gunman’s mother, before the gunman took his own life.

A man accused of murdering a Pierson Township woman in her own home will undergo a competency examination before heading to trial. Robert Munsell of Grand Rapids and Ionia is charged with the Nov. 17 open murder of Julie Danielson, 31.

Julie Lynn Danielson’s family and friends packed a small courtroom Monday afternoon to witness the video arraignment of her alleged murderer. Robert Michael Munsell, 29, of Grand Rapids and Ionia, is charged with the open murder of Danielson, 31, of Pierson Township. Munsell was arraigned before Magistrate Richard Palmer in 64B District Court.

Golfers, club members, family and friends gathered Sunday for a thank you buffet from the owners of Birchwood Golf Course. “This post is to make it official that the rumors that have been floating around that Birchwood Golf Course is being sold are indeed true,” stated Birchwood’s Facebook page on Oct. 3. “The agreement with Sandyland Farms was completed today. Members only until the last Sunday of October.” For the last 31 years, Mark and Debbie Heath have owned and operated the course at 6900 Masters Road just outside of Howard City.

One man has been arraigned on charges related to more than 50 breaking and entering incidents in western Montcalm County and a second man will soon be arraigned and charged. Jacob Nathaniel Graham, 20, of Howard City was arraigned in 64B District Court in Stanton. He is charged with receiving and concealing from $1,000 to $20,000, possession of marijuana and being a habitual offender fourth offense. Another man from Howard City is lodged in the Montcalm County Jail on unrelated charges, but charges related to the western Montcalm County thefts are soon forthcoming, according to Michigan State Police Lakeview Post Commander Lt. Kevin Sweeney.

Three properties were among several condemned in Montcalm County last year, including a gas station, a trailer park and a family farm. The three properties have found different fates more than a year later. Two of the stories appear to have happy endings, while one story continues to unfold.

Since January, police departments serving the western portion of Montcalm County have taken more than 50 complaints involving the theft of televisions, Ipads, X boxes, Playstations, quads, motorcycles, bicycles and a safe, according to the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post.

R&R Research was the subject of much local criticism and news coverage about three years ago in Montcalm County. Now the Howard City-area facility may be in trouble at the national level.

Gavin and Ashley Senn of Howard City didn’t know they were both carriers of a genetic disease until they married each other and had children. Their firstborn, Lauren, 5, is a healthy child. But Breylon, 4, was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease when he was 18 months old. He had intestinal failure at age 2 and was placed in early care hospice. He receives all his nutrition through an IV. The Senns recently learned that their youngest child, 8-month-old Brynlee, has the disease as well.

The 10th annual Harvest Festival took place Friday through Sunday throughout downtown Howard City.