George James

Cheap Trick to Play McMorran Arena November 4th

Cheap Trick is coming to Port Huron’s McMorran Arena on August 4th. The rock band is best known for its 1970s and 80s hits “I Want You to Want Me” and “The Flame”.

Cheap Trick was formed in 1973 in Rockford, Illinois, and has sold more than 20 million albums. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Last November brought the rock band Styx to McMorran. The packed house showed organizers that Port Huron is ready for arena concerts.

Cheap Trick concert tickets are already selling fast. Prices range from $55-75.

While Cheap Trick is the big arena show, other musical productions are also planned at McMorran this season. A Tom Petty cover band, The Wildflowers, is playing at McMorran Place on October 8th. A 1950s and 1960s-styled cover band, American Graffiti and Jersey Seasons, will be playing on November 5th, and AC/DC and Queen cover bands are playing later in the season.

Tickets for all the shows are on sale now at mcmorran.com and at the McMorran Box Office.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Magical Moments Formalwear Giveaway at Birchwood Mall September 3-4

The Magical Moments Formalwear Giveaway on September 3rd and 4th at Birchwood Mall is both a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the mall store, Mostly Michigan, and a way for owner, Michele Matthews to give back to the community.

Matthews started asking for donations of gently used or new men’s and women’s formalwear and within hours had already run out of space. She reached out to Lois Potts, the General Manager at Birchwood Mall, who gave her a temporary space in the mall for the growing collection of formal wear.

Dress and formalwear donations can be brought to Mostly Michigan until August 21st. They are also accepting donations of other things that can take the financial stress off of teenagers and their families as they plan for the traditional night of making memories at Homecoming and other upcoming formal events.

Restaurant gift cards, donations of hair, nail, and other services, as well as cash, are being accepted.

Magical Moments wish list:

Dresses: New dresses, used and washed or dry-cleaned dresses. If you can’t wash them, let organizers know and they will clean them. Think a dress is too far out of style to donate? Maybe not. Some teenagers know how to sew and would love to reconstruct their dream dresses and use their imaginations.

Women’s Dress Shoes, Purses, Capes, Shawls, Accessories

Menswear: Suits, Tuxedos, Shirts, Ties, Suspenders, Cummerbunds, Vests, Dress Shoes

Money: For teens who might not find anything in their size, Michele Matthews has offered to shop specifically for them.

Gift Cards: Restaurants that would be appropriate for a pre-homecoming dinner

Service donations: Photography, Dry Cleaning, Hair and Nail Services for both boys and girls

The Formalwear Giveaway will be on September 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and September 4th from noon to 6:00 p.m. at Birchwood Mall in Fort Gratiot. Check the Mostly Michigan Facebook page for the exact location in the mall. Guests will register to be eligible for raffle prizes such as restaurant gift cards. No proof of income is required. It is open to everyone.

If neither of the giveaway days works, accommodations can be made with Michele Matthews.

mostlymichigan@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/MostlyMichiganFortGratiotMI

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sheriff’s Department Nabs Dangerous Drivers in M-25 Sting

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department targeted dangerous drivers on M-25 in Burtchville Township throughout the month of July. They definitely found many drivers making poor choices, with one driver traveling at an unbelievable 131 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone.

On July 28th, Lieutenant Scott Jones stopped the vehicle that was traveling 76 miles per hour over the speed limit. The driver, a 25-year-old from Hazel Park, Michigan, was arrested and sent to the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center with a reckless driving charge.

In addition to the arrest of the reckless driver, 59 speeding tickets were issued, along with 18 other moving violations, one non-moving violation, and six misdemeanor arrests.

The stretch of M-25 that runs through Burtchville is known as a deadly stretch, with 109 accidents counted between 2017 and 2021. Thirteen of those accidents caused incapacitating injuries, and seven people lost their lives in five separate accidents.

St. Clair County Sheriff Lieutenant Scott Baldwin said the enforcement campaign was in response to recent tragic crashes, but no changes to the road structure are planned at this time and there is no news of an official road study. 

Lieutenant Baldwin said, “We will continue to enforce traffic laws in this stretch of road to reduce the amount of crashes and hopefully the severity of them as well as well. In the future, we’ll continue to monitor crash data and enforce traffic laws, specifically speeding, improper passing, seatbelt usage, and distracted  driving amongst others.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lapeer Road to Close Between Abbotsford and Wadhams Roads August 6-7

The St. Clair County Road Commission has announced a road closure planned for this weekend. Lapeer Road will be completely closed between Abbotsford Road and Wadhams Road from Saturday, August 6th to Sunday, August 7th. Local residents and travelers should plan on delays, and patience from drivers is appreciated. 

The detour route is Wadhams Road to Griswold Road to Taylor Road, which is also called Dunlap Road. 

Crews will be completing storm sewer crossings in two locations on Lapeer Road. The two locations are just west of Bartlett Road and west of Hidden Lake Drive. The Road Commission reports that each crossing will require the road to be completely closed, and they will not be under construction at the same time. 

Traffic will not be allowed through the active work zone and will be directed to turn around. Access to homes and businesses, as well as emergency access, will be maintained during the closure, which is planned to wrap up by the end of the day on Sunday, August 7th. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Now is the Time to Lock in Winter Propane Costs

Nobody really wants to think about winter heating right now, but the Michigan Public Service Commission is advising homeowners who use propane to heat their homes to start planning ahead.

Propane is used by almost a quarter of residents in the Lower Peninsula, with the highest use in rural areas. Michigan uses more propane to heat homes than any other state.

The MSPC says now is the time to shop around for the best deals on propane and to lock in a rate. Energy prices have risen dramatically, with much of the blame being placed on the ongoing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, according to the MSPC.

Propane providers do offer budget plans along with pre-buy and fixed price plans that are a buffer against higher prices later in the season. Know the size of your propane tank and your average use to prevent overbuying or underbuying.

From the Michigan Public Service Commission:

Propane users also can help reduce their costs by using energy efficiently. Check out the MPSC’s Be Winterwise page for tips and information including ways to reduce energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy has additional energy saver tips.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Downtown Port Huron First Friday: Dog Days of Summer

Ever wish your dog could experience the fun and entertainment of a Friday night in Downtown Port Huron? It’s Fido or Max or Buster’s lucky week, since it’s First Friday, and this week’s theme is “Dog Days of Summer”.

Each “First Friday” of the month has a different theme and this month it’s dedicated to man’s best friend, dogs. Dogs are welcome to stroll around downtown with their owners and see what kinds of treats and surprises the downtown businesses have for the canine customers.

There is a Pet Parade and Costume Contest planned for 6:00 p.m. at A Little Something on Quay. Community members such as Mike Kinyon, Kathy Swantek, Patti Samar, and Carolyn Crowe will be judging the pets for Best Costume, Funniest, Most Creative, Prettiest, and Cutest.

If your dog likes rock and roll, The Fabulous Henhouse Boys will be playing on McMorran Plaza from 8:00-10:00 p.m. To get the full schedule of events in Downtown Port Huron, visit the links below.

https://www.mcmorran.com/plaza

EVENTS

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland