Choze Powell

Grand Opening of McMorran Plaza May 26, 2022

McMorran Place Plaza is almost ready to host multiple gatherings this summer, and the City of Port Huron is kicking off the season with a grand opening of the space to celebrate with the community.

On Thursday, May 26th at 1 PM, there is a grand opening celebration at McMorran Place Plaza , and the first 250 people to arrive will receive a commemorative coin to remember the event.

Nancy Winzer, Director of Port Huron Parks and Recreation, said, “McMorran Place is the Blue Water Area’s community civic center and one of the most iconic landmarks in our downtown. We’re excited to activate the front plaza area as the center of our vibrant downtown and allow it to serve as the town square area it was originally designed for.”

McMorran Place was built in the 1960’s, and the opening of the plaza marks a new era of excitement with the addition of an outdoor stage, a beer garden, and a splash pad for cooling off on hot summer days.

There will be live concerts at the plaza every weekend throughout the summer along with outdoor fitness classes provided by the Blue Water Area YMCA.

Learn more at Mcmorran.com/plaza

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Police Asking for Help from Military Street Residents

On Thursday May 12, 2022 at approximately 1030 a.m. an aircraft with Customs and Border Protection noticed a submerged vehicle in the St. Clair River just off the 3400 block of Military Street.

Port Huron Police and Fire departments responded, along with Tri – Hospital EMS and the St. Clair County Dive Team. Divers entered the water and found the vehicle to have one occupant. They were able to pull him from the vehicle, but he was already deceased.

Northbound Military Street is currently closed to Conner Street with a detour around the scene. The Port Huron Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. The body of the deceased was removed from the scene by the St. Clair County Medical Examiner.

Further information identifying the victim in this incident will come from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office once proper identification and Next of Kin notifications have been made.

Investigators are still on scene with the dive team working to salvage the vehicle from the river bottom. This vehicle may have entered the river several days ago.

Investigators are asking any residents with outdoor cameras in the area to contact them to assist with the investigation. As always, if you have any information please contact Detective Lieutenant Chris Frazier at (810) 984-9711. Anonymous tips can
be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810) 987-6688 or emailed through www.porthuronpolice.org

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

A Beautiful Me Grows with Help From Community Foundation, James C. Acheson Foundation

Port Huron non-profit, A Beautiful Me, is expanding their office and training space. After outgrowing their former office space, they have moved to a new space above PH Country Style Marketplace across the street from their retail store, The Closet by A Beautiful Me. 

The new Empowerment and Training Suite was made possible by donations including a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and a James C. Acheson Foundation gift of $10,000.

The Community Foundation grant was distributed by the Grants Committee and the Youth Advisory Council. The new space was celebrated with a ribbon cutting in April with over 100 attendees.

A Beautiful Me Executive Director, Karen Palka said, “After exhausting our current footprint to train youth we explored options to provide an adequate space of growth. Within this new 2,200 square foot Empowerment & Training Suite in Downtown Port Huron we will be able to serve teen girls in all three stages of our original business, philanthropy and entrepreneurial program – building confidence and self-esteem.”

Teens in 8th-11th grades who are interested in free business training can get more information at WGRT.com.

Teens in 8th -11th grade can apply for this free training by texting emerge360 to 586-623-4407 or call 810-662-3248 for more information.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Baby Formula Shortage Continues

Where is all the baby formula? Frustrated parents are scrambling to find some types of infant formula amid a nationwide shortage.

The reason for the shortage is the shutdown of a Michigan formula processing facility that was blamed for producing contaminated formula that resulted in the deaths of two babies. The company, Abbott, disagrees with the findings. Abbott has said they could open back up in as soon as two weeks.

There are also supply chain issues related to pandemic purchasing patterns and trade laws that prevent getting formula from other countries, such as Canada.

Specialty formulas and critical medical foods, those used by people of all ages with severe food allergies, are the most scarce right now. Some pediatricians have samples that they can share, or families can deal with Abbott, who makes most of the highly specialized formula. 

The FDA warns parents to be leery of recipes for homemade baby formula and should never water down formula to make it last longer. Toddler formulas are recommended only as a last resort for older babies. A link to more information can be found at WGRT.com.

Anyone needing specialized formulas can call Abbott at 1-800-881-0876 to request a product on a case-by-case basis.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-important-steps-improve-supply-infant-and-specialty-formula-products

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Jessica Martin-Whitley Takes New Position at VNA & Blue Water Hospice

Visiting Nurse Association and Blue Water Hospice has a new Vice President of Clinical Operations & Chief Operating Officer. Jessica Martin-Whitley, RN, BSN was appointed this week.

Martin-Whitley had been Director of Hospice with the agency since 2018, and her leadership helped achieve improved satisfaction scores and national ranking along with successfully achieving accreditations and completing regulatory surveys.

Angela DeLaere, President and CEO of VNA and Blue Water Hospice said Martin-Whitley’s passion for veterans was evident when she partnered with Quilts of Valor to present quilts to veterans under the care of VNA and Blue Water Hospice.

 “We are fortunate to have her on our leadership team,” said DeLaere. 

Martin-Whitley will use her experience as a leader at the organization along with her knowledge as an instructor at North Central Michigan College and Baker College in this new role.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

United Way Supports Letter Carriers Food Drive

 

The Letter Carriers Food drive is back after a 2 year hiatus, and Brent Gillette, Executive Director of United Way of St. Clair County, and Terra Anderson, Food Coordinator for the National Association of Letter Carriers, stopped in to share why they support this effort to alleviate hunger.

Learn more about the National Letter Carriers Association food drive here:

https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive/2022-donor-drive

Learn more about the United Way of St. Clair County here:

https://www.uwstclair.org/

 

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