Choze Powell

Beeler Hosts Office Hour in Sandusky

State Representative Andrew Beeler is inviting the members of his district to join him at a Sandusky Diner for a Q & A session.

Interested persons can meet with Beeler on Saturday, May 22nd, from 11 AM to 12 PM at the Sandusky Family Diner located at 422 Sanilac Road in Sandusky.

The meeting is open to all, and Beeler will be available discuss his legislative work in the state Capitol, answer questions, and provide assistance to his constituents.

For those who would like to communicate with Beeler but can’t make the meeting, he can be reached at his 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.

 

DTF Makes Several Arrests

Port Huron, MI — The St. Clair County Drug Task Force confiscated drugs and made several arrests last week.

According to Sheriff Mat King, an investigation into the sales of narcotics led to the execution of a search warrant in the 2500 block of Spruce Street in the city of Port Huron. 

On May 3rd at about 10:30 p.m., members of the DTF entered the home, where they located and seized about $3000 worth of methamphetamine, $750 worth of analog drugs, $600 worth of cocaine and $200 worth of fentanyl/heroin. Two Port Huron men, ages 22 and 44 were arrested and lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center. The Port Huron Police K-9 Unit assisted in the investigation.

On May 5th at about 6:00 p.m., the Drug Task Force assisted the Sheriff Road Patrol on a traffic stop at Dove Road and Minnesota Road in Port Huron Township. During a search of the vehicle, about $600 worth of cocaine and nearly $4000 in cash were located and confiscated. Two men from Port Huron, ages 51 and 52 and a 42 year old Port Huron woman were arrested and lodged at the IDC on various drug charges.

On May 6th at about 3:00 p.m., a search warrant in the 3300 block of 30th Street led to the arrest 38 year old Port Huron man. During the search, members of the Drug Task Force located and seized a handgun, ammunition and drug packaging materials. The man was lodged at the IDC and faces charges of felon in possession of a handgun and felon in possession of ammunition.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force

Michigan Unemployment Office Adds Staff, Increases Hours

Would Return to Work Grant Help Employers Fill Open Positions

The  National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is reporting that 44% of small business owners have job openings they can’t fill, and 92% of them report few or no qualified applicants are applying for their open positions.

Small business owners who attended a hearing of the House Government Operations Committee in Lansing in April, were concerned that increased unemployment benefits and the pandemic are continuing to keep people out of the work force.

Traditionally, those receiving unemployment benefits in the State of Michigan were required to prove they were searching for work. That requirement was lifted due to the pandemic, but representatives from the Unemployment Insurance Agency told the House Government Operations Committee that the requirement would be reinstated by the end of May.

NFIB Michigan State Director, Charlie Owens said the work search requirement would help employers as well as an incentive such as a “Return to Work Grant”.

“The return to work incentive would provide grants of $1,000 to workers who leave the unemployment system and return to work,” said Owens.

The incentive is included in House Bill 4420 which is currently making its way through the legislative process.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Golf Outing Supports Women Facing Breast Cancer

Port Huron, MI — Summer is just around the corner, and Lake Huron Medical Center is getting ready for its annual Pink Ribbon Golf Outing on Friday, June 25th. The event supports the Pink Ribbon Fund which provides advanced breast cancer screening and treatment for vulnerable women in the community.

The Pink Ribbon Golf Outing is an inclusive event for men and women with all levels of golf skills to gather in support of those facing a breast cancer diagnosis. The outing offers a nine-hole flight at 7:30 AM or an 18-hole flight at 11:30 AM, and golfers can register as individuals or as a team. Boxed meals are provided with each registration.

The deadline to register for the event is June 18th, and sponsorships are available for individuals or businesses who want to provide even more support to the Pink Ribbon Fund.

Register online <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

CAER Donates to City of Sarnia

Sarnia, Ontario — Mobile Command Vehicles are used by police and other first responders to serve as a portable office space and equipment storage unit, and the Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) organization has just committed $200,000 toward new vehicles to the City of Sarnia.

CAER assisted the city with the purchase of their current Mobile Command Vehicle several decades ago, and this new investment ensures that first responders will be able to provide a coordinated response in the event of a future emergency.

The City of Sarnia has several unique public safety challenges due to the close proximity of many industrial facilities. CAER works together with the city and other organizations such as the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment & Sustainability (BASES) to protect the area’s people and environment.

BASES provides information for the community about local safety issues on its website: lambtonbases.ca

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Why Don’t You Want the COVID-19 Vaccine?

As leadership both federally and at the state level push for a vaccination rate of 70%, St. Clair County hovers around 44% with many walk-in vaccine clinics experiencing lower turnout than anticipated.

As your local news source, WGRT wants to hear from our listeners who may be reluctant or opposed to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. We are asking listeners to submit their vaccine questions and concerns by email to jessie@wgrt.com from now until May 24th.

We will address your concerns in special editions of LIMElight with Jessie over several weeks in interviews with Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department.

The interviews will be broadcast during the regular LIMElight showtimes of 12:20 & 6:20 PM, and they will also be available on our podcast platform and in video form through GBS Media.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand