Choze Powell

Kevin Miller is retiring from his position as Superintendent of St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) in December, and RESA’s board has offered the position to Brenda Tenniswood.

Tenniswood’s contract is expected to be approved at the Board’s July meeting, and she is enthusiastic about taking the new position.

She said, “I am honored and humbled to be selected as the next Superintendent of St. Clair County RESA. I look forward to leading the work of RESA and serving our students, families, staff, and communities of St. Clair County. I’m especially grateful to Kevin for his guidance. RESA is strong today because of his leadership over the past six years.”

St. Clair County RESA provides a multitude of educational services around St. Clair County beyond its most recognized role operating St. Clair Technical Education Center (TEC) and Woodland Developmental Center. RESA is also behind Imagination Library, the program that delivers free books to kids ages 0-5, and the Pine River Nature Center near Goodells County Park. RESA is also charters Blue Water Middle College.

Tenniswood has been part of St. Clair County RESA since 2015 when she transitioned from a leadership role in East China School District to Director of Education Services at RESA.

Michael McCartan, RESA Board of Education President, said, “Brenda is a positive and energetic leader. Her warmth, collaborative style, practical approach to problem-solving, and passion for helping students have earned her the respect of RESA’s staff, board, and the districts they serve.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The House Oversight Committee today approved a plan state Rep. Andrew Beeler helped introduce to rein in broad emergency authority used by state executive agencies — bolstering accountability to the people’s elected representatives in the Michigan Legislature.

Beeler, R-Port Huron, sponsored House Bill 6207, which is part of a broader plan to strengthen public accountability for powers used by the governor and state agencies to address emergencies — often when the health or safety of residents is at risk. The plan sets a variety of safeguards in place for emergency powers, focusing on transparency, time limits unless lawmakers extend a power, and the elimination of redundant laws and unnecessary powers.

Beeler’s HB 6207 would specifically create transparency and enable legislative oversight of the administration’s authority to order a mine to suspend operations or take other corrective action to protect the public health, safety, welfare, or the environment. The bill would require officials to notify the Legislature within 24 hours of issuing an emergency order.

“Many emergency powers lack real oversight, making the authority wielded by executive agencies a one-way street — the Legislature gave the administration authority without ability to keep an eye on how it is used,” Beeler said. “The safeguards proposed in our bipartisan plan will restore accountability to legislators, where there is a direct line of accountability to the citizens of Michigan.”

Overall, the 31-bill package would increase accountability by:

• Setting reasonable timeframes: Some bills within the package would provide a specific role for elected legislators in the exercise of certain emergency powers, by ending the use of authority after 28 days, requiring the Michigan Legislature to decide whether circumstances warrant an extension of the power in a particular instance. For instance, one bill would set a time limit and allow legislative reauthorization for epidemic orders issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, an authority that was used quite broadly related to COVID-19.
• Ensuring transparency: In order to ensure lawmakers overseeing state departments are aware of the use of emergency authority, Beeler’s HB 6207 and other bills would simply require the executive branch to notify the Legislature in a timely manner — typically 24 hours — after some powers.
• Cleaning up the law: Additional bills in the package would repeal unnecessary or outdated emergency powers, some of which have rarely or never been used. Other statutes to be repealed are redundant, granting power also authorized elsewhere in Michigan law.

The plan largely earned bipartisan support and now proceeds to the entire House of Representatives for consideration.

Submitted by Representative Beeler’s Office

Blue Water Cruise Weekend kicks off on Thursday, June 23, 2022 with the carnival at Birchwood Mall and continues with Cruise Night on Friday, the Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show on Saturday, and Fireworks Saturday night.

The Carnival opens at 2 PM on Thursday and Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday. Ride All Day wristbands are available for $30 each.

Cruise Night officially starts Friday night at 6 PM, and the Cruise Route begins just north of Krafft Road on M-25 and ends at Carrigan Road.  The route starts at Krafft in an attempt to help cruisers avoid construction on Pine Grove.

There are 8 Pit Stops along the route where cruisers can stop for free swag and get a sticker for their Cruise Card. Cruise Cards are available at the first Pit Stop which is Mercy Village. If cruisers collect all their stickers, their cards can be turned in at the final stop, Country Style Market Place, to be entered into a drawing.

There is an official Cruise Weekend t-shirt for sale at Country Style Marketplace’s Ft. Gratiot location, and at the Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show on Saturday from 10 – 3 at Birchwood Mall.

Fireworks will happen at dusk on Saturday night, and they will be visible from many places around the intersection of M-25 and Keewahdin Road.

To learn more, visit Blue Water Cruise Weekend on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/bwcruise

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

We’re just about to the middle of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton’s Music week, which features multiple musicians playing on stages all around the Sarnia-Lambton area. Music week coincides with Blue Water Border Fest which runs Thursday – Saturday at Centennial Park.

Music Week is an opportunity to celebrate local musicians and venues throughout Lambton County, and this year will be a chance for music lovers to catch up with their favorite bands.

Music takes place at the Petrolia Tuesday Night Farmers Market tonight, and continues at wineries, parks, breweries, and festivals throughout the weekend. There are also a couple of shows at Rustr Music Hall, Beatles in Blue on Friday and Jim Dan Dee on Saturday.

Bluewater BorderFest kicks off Friday night with The Tea Party and the Sam Roberts Band, and Saturday night’s headliner is Brampton, Ontario native Alessia Cara. Tickets for Bluewater BorderFest are available online and range from $59.99 for single-night general admission to $169.99 for general admission for all three days.

Learn more about Bluewater BorderFest here: https://www.bluewaterborderfest.ca/

A full schedule for Tourism Sarnia-Lambton Music Week is available here: https://www.ontbluecoast.com/musicweek/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

CityFlats Hotel has a soft opening a few weeks ago, and the community gathered with them Monday, June 20, 2022 to celebrate their grand opening. The hotel’s 18 unique guest rooms are ready to welcome summer visitors.

The motto of CityFlats Hotel is “Stay Different”, and a tour of the guest rooms with their creative floor plans and modern features certainly makes visitors feel like they’ve stumbled upon something special. Each room has its own color palette, custom furniture, and high-end fixtures so guests can have a one-of-a-kind experience each time they stay.

Charter House Holdings, LLC of Zeeland, MI bought the building in 2015, and began converting it from a bank to the boutique hotel. The guest rooms are converted office space, and most rooms feature stunning views of downtown Port Huron overlooking Main Street and the Black River.

The Grand Opening showcased CityFlats Hotel’s guest rooms along with indoor gathering spaces: The Ballroom, The Bar, and The Kitchen, along with its two outdoor spaces: FairWeather Grill and CityFloats, a floating bar.

To book a room at CityFlats Hotel, visit their website here:

Port Huron

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The Michigan Youth Challenge Academy has produced its 46th class of graduates. The program is a voluntary alternative education program for Michigan 16–18-year-olds. The program helps participants work toward getting their high school diploma or GED and offers graduates participation in the Michigan Job Challenge program.

Youth in the program are involved in physical fitness, community service, classroom instruction, and drill and ceremony formations.

U.S. Army Major General Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said, “This program provides young people with vocational training and fundamental life skills necessary to be successful in life.”

Caleb Barber of Macomb County participated in the program. His mother, LaTonya Barber, said that her son was hesitant at first, but now is planning to go back next month for the job program. She said while it is hard as a parent to let your child leave for the military-style program, she knew that she was leaving him in good hands.

Barber recommends the program, saying that her son has greater confidence to navigate decision making, and she expects him to make a positive impact.

Class #47 will begin on July 17, 2022. To begin the application process, interested youth and parents are invited to attend an upcoming virtual orientation. These orientation sessions are a mandatory part of the application process. To schedule an orientation, please contact: Joan Miller at 269-968-1368 (Western Michigan and Upper Peninsula) or Frank Vasquez at 269-968-1397 (Eastern Michigan and Upper Peninsula).

https://www.michigan.gov/myca

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland