Choze Powell

Kasey Wolak McLaren Port Huron Employee of the month

McLaren Port Huron December Employee of the Month

Kasey Wolak has been named the Employee of the Month for December. Wolak has worked at McLaren Port Huron for 13 years and is currently a unit assistant on 4 South.

Wolak was nominated by her peers because she exemplifies the hospital values. Her customer service skills are amazing. She goes above and beyond to help patients and visitors, making their visit to the hospital better. Wolak is sincerely compassionate and caring, ready and willing to help anyone who needs it. Her coworkers look forward to working with her because she is always happy, helpful, and a joy to work with. Wolak is friendly, happy, bright, has a positive attitude and smiles all the time. She is an example of what all employees should strive to be and is without a doubt worthy of this award.

This employee recognition is given to individuals who consistently live the values, mission and performance standards of McLaren Port Huron. Honorees are nominated by a co-worker, physician, volunteer, and/or customer.

To learn more about McLaren Port Huron, visit www.mclaren.org/porthuron.

Submitted by McLaren Port Huron.

National School Choice Week Celebrates Educational Options

National School Choice Week has been celebrated since 2011, and it’s America’s largest celebration of educational choice. This year’s events will take place virtually, and the kickoff is scheduled for January 25th at noon.

Michigan families, schools, and organizations are hosting over 1,000 virtual celebrations across the state from January 25 – 30th. The events are non-partisan, non-political, and not related to any legislative advocacy campaign. They are simply opportunities for Michigan families to raise awareness about school choice.

In Michigan, families can choose a variety of options for educating their children. Students can be enrolled in public, private, charter, or magnet schools, or they can be educated at home through online academies or homeschooling. Parents are free to choose which option works best for their families.

More information about school choice and National School Choice Week is available at schoolchoiceweek.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Bridge Card Recipients Getting a 15% Increase

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Benefits will increase 15% per month for Michiganders eligible for the program. The first of the additional payments will be added to Bridge Cards by the end of January and continue each month ending in June.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow led the initiative for the increase and it was approved by congress as part of the Congressional relief bill.

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling a customer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.

 

Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty

Grayfox Homicide Suspect Arrested and Arraigned

On January 19, 2021, at the request of the Port Huron Police Department, the United States Marshals Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team did locate and arrest Reginald Cu-Nu Grasty in the City of Detroit near Jefferson and Conner Street.

Grasty was taken into custody without incident. He was transferred to Port Huron and placed in custody of the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit. Grasty was interviewed and lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention Center on the charges of Open Murder and Disinterment / Mutilation of a Corpse. Grasty was arraigned yesterday on those charges.

His bond was set at $750,000.00. Grasty has a Probable Cause Conference scheduled for February 2, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Honorable Judge Mona Armstrong. 

On June 23, 2020, the Port Huron Police Department responded to the Grayfox (a former Navy vessel) at 60 Griswold Street, regarding a deceased person. On June 25, 2020 the St. Clair County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the victim. The death was ruled a homicide, cause of death was trauma related. 

On July 1, 2020, the victim of the homicide on the Grayfox was identified as William Michael Orlow, a 44 year old male Port Huron resident.

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home Kicks Off Friendraising Campaign

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home is a nonprofit assisted living facility in Port Huron that cares for low income seniors. Their mission includes providing an affordable, comfortable, and safe home while also providing activities that improve their resident’s quality of life.

The home is managed by Blue Water Developmental Housing, Inc, and it’s Executive Director, Kathy Swantek, is encouraging the community to support this year’s Friendraising Campaign.

This year’s fundraising event will take place virtually and support the efforts of Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home to reserve space for residents who are unable to pay for services. They work with community partners to identify those in need, and provide them with housing and medical care.

“Donations from fundraisers like this one help us help those who are most vulnerable in our community. Your dollars make a direct impact on the care they receive,” said Swantek.

The campaign goal is to raise $10,000, and donations can be made online by visiting their event page on Eventbrite <HERE> from now until March 31, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

RESA Provides Free WiFi for Students

St. Clair County RESA is providing free, 24-hour, high-speed Wi-Fi access across the county to local students, faculty, and staff who may not have high-speed internet connectivity at home. 

RESA’s IT Department has set up the hotspots in school parking lots across the county so users can maintain social distancing while accessing the internet from their cars. The project was made possible by a Michigan MiConnect grant. 

“This technology will help support our students, staff, and families who live in areas of our county that don’t have high-speed internet service,” said St. Clair County RESA Superintendent Dr. Kevin Miller. “This is exactly what we are trying to accomplish in conjunction with our Community Educational Network, formed a few years ago to use our RESA fiber network to reach homes without reliable, secure, and high-speed internet, which is critical during times of remote learning.” 

The Wi-Fi hotspots allow students without internet access and those with unstable or slow home service to drive to locations across the county to get free and fast connections. The service provides a full range of internet usage from an individual’s personal device, such as viewing websites, downloading materials, and logging in to instructional programs. At all of the hotspots, students and staff will be able to connect to the network using their school credentials. 

RESA is working with local communities to expand the number of these “drive-in” internet locations. 

Parking lot WiFi locations and directions on how to connect to the network are available on the RESA website at www.sccresa.org.

Submitted by St. Clair County RESA