Escanaba, Kalamazoo and Manistee are being given a total of $622,500 in federal grants designed to help them improve their airline service. The three Michigan communities are among 29 nationwide that are getting $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The program helps small communities develop their own solutions to local air service needs.

Celebrating local produce, the autumn season and young artistic talent, the local Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual "Pumpkins at Chinook Pier' from 10-11 a.m. Saturday. The free event is held in conjunction with Grand Haven ArtWalk. Children under the age of 12 are invited to pick a pumpkin, grab a marker or two and participate in the pumpkin-decorating time at the Grand Haven Farmers Market, located under the green canopy at Chinook Pier.

Daytime rain on Wednesday drizzled off in time for ArtWalk's Centertown block party and pig roast that evening. Hundreds of people gathered in the parking lot of the Frame and Mat Shop, 728 Washington Ave., to sample Centertown restaurant foods, take in some art and listen to music. "It was a huge turnout - the weather held out for us,' said Kelly Gates, a member of the ArtWalk committee. "It was a huge collaborative for local businesses and organizations in Centertown.'

Police said a 36-year-old New Jersey man who was found dead in a mid-Michigan jail cell over the weekend had been subdued by officers using a stun gun during his arrest. Michigan State Police told the Morning Sun a stun gun was used Saturday on Bradford Gibson of East Orange by officers trying to get him to leave a bar in Mount Pleasant. An autopsy was conducted and investigators were awaiting a report about cause of death.

Authorities removed about 60 young people from a Portage school district school bus as they searched for weapons this morning. Police reported that nothing was found during the search. Sgt. James Myers said Portage police were told a student on the bus yelled at a parent whose daughter had just boarded the bus suggesting someone might "return with real guns.' On Wednesday, teens are suspected of shooting pellet guns at area homes. The woman reported the comment to the bus driver, who reported it to the bus garage. Police were called.

Tim Schuitema went up high and headed in the lone goal of the game on Wednesday night as visiting Western Michigan Christian defeated neighbor Mona Shores, 1-0. The Warriors were awarded a corner kick just three minutes into the second half. Junior Alec Breit lofted the kick to the front of the net, where Schuitema went high above the crowd and knocked the ball into the net. The Warriors (9-5-1) were able to keep the Sailors at bay by controlling the second half.