■Michael Berniche, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Berniche of Hatfield, is one happy young hunter. He shot a two-year-old, 125-pound buck with a 30.30 Saturday while on a hunting trip with his father and Eugene Dugal at Ball Mountain Dam in Jamaica, Vt.
■The condemned bridge over the Mill River in Skinnerville has already been taken down and its replacement may be completed in approximately two weeks. This was the report from the bridge site Monday where workers reported the old bridge had been completely dismantled in one day’s time.
■The Smith Agricultural and Vocational High School can erect a greenhouse on state land off Burt’s Pit Road, after receiving the City Council’s approval on Thursday. Superintendent Raymond J. Cooke said this week that the state Department of Food and Agriculture, which owns the land, approved of the 70-by-30-foot structure last week.
■The Rev. Peter Kakos preached his first sermon at Edwards Church yesterday. Kakos was chosen this fall to replace the Rev. Roger A. Barnett, who retired in June 1994. Kakos has ministered to congregations in Everett, Douglas, Westfield and Windsor, Conn., since he was ordained 20 years ago.
■A veteran TV journalist and one-time University of Massachusetts student is returning to campus to take on a job the chancellor views as critical to boosting the school’s profile — vice chancellor of university relations. John Kennedy, a former ABC News producer and a 1986 UMass graduate in political science, assumes his new post Dec. 27.
■Sixteen high school seniors are gearing up to shine under bright stage lights at the Academy of Music Sunday, when they take part in this year’s “Viva Las Vegas” Greater Easthampton Junior Miss competition. Contestants in the 45th annual event are students representing Easthampton, Hampshire Regional and Holyoke Catholic high schools.