Choze Powell

Quarantine Order in Effect Until Further Notice

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department, issued a Public Health Order effective August 20th until further notice. The Order reaffirms that a close contact of person infected with COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days.

Anyone who is notified by the the St. Clair County Health Department, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, or their local school district that they are a close contact of an infected person must quarantine unless they are fully vaccinated or have had a documented case of COVID-19 in the previous 90 days and are fully recovered.

Dr. Mercatante said, “Quarantine of a healthy individual who is identified as a close contact is necessary to control community transmission of COVID-19. We understand how difficult the last 18 months have been on everyone, however it is our duty to protect the health of our community and work to control the spread of this virus.”

The Order states that businesses, schools, and other facilities must continue to keep records for contact tracing purposes and provide them to the health department if needed. They are also subject to serious civil or criminal penalties if they permit an employee, student, or patron to act contrary to the Order.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

T-Mobile Data Breach Initiates Consumer Alert

T-Mobile confirmed a data breach that affects more that 50 million customers in the United States. Hackers accessed customer’s personal information including social security numbers and driver’s license numbers.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a consumer alert after the company reported last Friday that identifying numbers associated with mobile phones, IMEI and IMSI numbers, were also compromised.

Nessel said, “My Corporate Oversight Division is closely monitoring this developing situation and working to gather more information on the cause, impact to Michigan customers, and response. Unfortunately, this widespread data breach is an example of the lengths hackers will go to steal personal data that can then be sold to bad actors looking to commit fraud.”

T- Mobile is contacting affected customers directly, but Nessel is encouraging people to take advantage of their free, weekly credit reports available during the pandemic from all three national credit bureaus.

Reports are available from AnnualCreditReport.com which is the only truly free source for consumer credit reports.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Free NARCAN Kits Available at Health Department

The St. Clair County Healthy Department is providing free NARCAN kits from now until August 31st to individuals 18 and older. NARCAN is a nasal spray that can treat a known or suspected opioid overdose and potentially save a life.

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day, and the Health Department is offering the NARCAN kits, which include two doses of NARCAN, a mouth shield, gloves, and and information sheet, to educate and empower friends and family members of opioid users.

There were over 2,354 overdose deaths in the State of Michigan in 2019, and more than 75% of them were the results of opioids. Results are not fully in for 2020, but preliminary data suggest the number has increased.

Those who overdose on opioids and receive NARCAN may avoid death and have a chance at recovering from their dependence on the drug. Resources for those seeking recovery options are available at Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center via their website: www.bwroc.org

NARCAN kits are available at the St. Clair County Health Department  during normal business hours for those 18 years old or older without a prescription, insurance, or identification until August 31st.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Beeler Will Hold Office Hour in Ft. Gratiot

State Rep. Andrew Beeler invites the people of Sanilac and St. Clair counties to join him at his upcoming office hour on Saturday, Aug. 28th.

Beeler, of Port Huron, will meet with residents between noon and 1 PM at Big Boy Restaurant, 3961 24th Ave. in Fort Gratiot.

No appointment is necessary to attend. Beeler will be available to provide assistance, answer questions and discuss his legislative work in the state Capitol.

Thumb residents can also contact Beeler’s office by phone at 517-373-0835 or by email at AndrewBeeler@house.mi.gov.

Beeler represents Michigan’s 83rd House District, which includes all of Sanilac County, and Burtchville Township, Fort Gratiot Township and the city of Port Huron in St. Clair County.

SugarHigh Bakery Frankenmuth Cupcake

SugarHigh Bakery Takes the Cupcake

SugarHigh Bakery in Frankenmuth caught our attention last week when our Facebook contest for Frankenmuth Fun garnered almost 1,000 comments, most of them referencing the cupcakes at SugarHigh.

Located in the River Place shopping center in Frankenmuth, SugarHigh has been featured on Food Network’s On the Road and Cake Wars, and they took first place on Cupcake Wars in 2012.

Owner Heather Rousseau attributes the bakery’s success to her supportive team of family members and friends who never give up on her or the business.

Rousseau has been baking since she was a teen, and she attended the French Pastry School in Chicago. When she returned home in 2010, she started SugarHigh with her  fiancé, Adam, and started looking for a location for her business.

“I always had a dream of having a small town business. But I don’t want to try really hard getting people in the door, and we loved Frankemuth, and it just kind of fit,” said Rousseau

As the shop got busier, she received help from her mom, and eventually had her grandmother and several other family members join the team.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was concerned that her whole family would be out of work, but the team pulled together and innovated ways to shift to more carry out options, and they have fared well despite the challenges.

SugarHigh has an extensive menu of sweet treats including cupcakes, macarons, gluten-free treats, homemade dog treats, and gourmet cakes. Some of our listener favorites shared on our Facebook post were the Thin Mint, Butterbeer, German Chocolate, and Superman cupcakes, and their signature Chocolate Bacon.

Rousseau also owns SugarRush, a candy store, and the Pasty Haus, which sells bubble tea, snow ice, and a variety of pasties. All three of her businesses are located steps from one another in River Place Shops.

Learn more at www.SugarHighllc.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Delaying Health Screenings Dangerous for Women

The Centers for Disease Control have reported an 87% drop in breast cancer screenings and 84% decrease in cervical cancer screenings in the U.S. in April 2020 compared to the previous five years.

Many screening tests for women are performed or ordered during their annual physicals or gynecological exams, routine appointments that many skipped during the first year of the pandemic.

In response to the CDC’s report, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging Michigan women to connect with their doctors and schedule an appointment for their yearly exams if they are behind.

Screening tests for breast and cervical cancer enable healthcare providers to discover abnormalities early which leads to better outcomes for patients.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health at MDHHS, said, “Simple, proactive measures can catch cancer in its early stages and allow doctors to intervene before it progresses.”

Those interested in getting a head start on their health screening can attend the Community Health Fair at Lake Huron Medical Center on August 26, 2021  from 1-6 PM at the main hospital at 2601 Electric Avenue in Port Huron.

The Lake Huron Medical Center Community Health Fair is offering free breast health screenings, blood pressure testing, and diabetes education.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand