George James

A 25-year Lapeer high school teacher is on leave after being charged last Thursday with sex trafficking of a minor and sexual exploitation of a child. The FBI says 48-year-old Corwin Gutenschwager made CashApp transfers totaling $839 with a 17-year-old girl, who told agents he paid her for sex. He allegedly admitted meeting 2 to 5 other girls at Flint hotels. Lapeer Community Schools says no local students appear involved and plans its own investigation. A detention hearing is set for this afternoon.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A St. Clair County jury has rejected a Port Huron woman’s claim of self-defense in the shooting death of her boyfriend. Jurors found 41-year-old Jennifer Goodall guilty Monday of first-degree murder in the killing of 23-year-old Chase Hoyt at their Port Huron home on Sept. 3rd of ’25. Body camera photos showed the rifle she said he held was in a closet, still in its case, and recordings captured her threatening him. Goodall will be sentenced at 1:35 p.m. Nov. 16 and faces up to life in prison.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A 22-year-old Amish woman is dead after a drowsy driver hit her horse-drawn buggy in Sanilac County’s Flynn Township. Michigan State Police say a 55-year-old North Branch man fell asleep at the wheel and struck it on Peck Road near Maple Valley Road at about 4:43 p.m. last Thursday. The woman and her horse died at the scene. Brown City police, Sanilac County deputies, Brown City firefighters and 2 ambulance crews also responded. Police remind drivers to stay alert on rural Thumb roads shared with buggies.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Contractors have until Wednesday to bid on a long-awaited addictions treatment centre in Sarnia, a project more than 20 years in the making. Bluewater Health’s new 24-bed Community Addictions Hub will bring withdrawal care, stabilization and outpatient services under one roof at the hospital. The need is clear, with 328 requests for the hospital’s 7 withdrawal beds last December alone. Once a builder is chosen, construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months, finally giving Lambton County a permanent home for treatment.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron’s hospital is getting a new top boss. McLaren Port Huron has named Lance Beus its new president and CEO, starting October 26, taking over from interim leader Tim Vargas. Beus brings more than 15 years of hospital leadership, most recently running hospitals in Detroit, where he worked to speed up emergency room care and bring in more doctors. He also led hospitals in Ohio and Tennessee. Board chair Gregory Busdicker says Beus will help strengthen quality and expand services for families across the Blue Water Area.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Michigan’s Thumb coast is taking a big bite out of the competition. Michigan Blue Magazine asked readers to pick the best of the best across the state, and the Thumb coast won 22 of 54 categories. Marine City led the way with 7 wins, including Best Vacation Town, Best Festival for Maritime Days, and Best Fudge. Port Huron took Best Boating Town, and the Bayview Mackinac Race won Best Boating Race. Other winners include the St. Clair Inn, Port Crescent State Park, and the M-29 Diner.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet