George James

Port Huron residents are invited to a public meeting on October 29th at the DoubleTree Hotel, 800 Harker St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) will discuss local PFAS contamination, which comes from human-made chemicals used in manufacturing, firefighting, and everyday products. Officials from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will cover potential health impacts, while the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will share investigation results and next steps. Attendees can ask questions after the presentations.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Port Huron man convicted of killing a woman more than 50 years ago received a new sentence last Friday. Chris Hansen, now 69, was 16 when he shot Clara Gilmore in her home during a planned robbery in ’73. Under a Michigan Supreme Court ruling, Hansen’s life sentence was deemed unconstitutional for minors.

A Circuit Court Judge resentenced him to 50 to 90 years, giving credit for the 52 years he has already served. Hansen apologized in court, taking responsibility for the crime, but his chances of release remain very low.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron hosted its first-ever Bluewater Classic on Friday, as two iconic vessels raced from the Huron Lady II Dock across the St. Clair River into Lake Huron. The hometown Huron Lady II went head-to-head with Canada’s Duc d’Orléans II under the Blue Water Bridge. Fans watched from shore or joined the cruise, which featured a live DJ and a 90-minute narrated sightseeing tour of local landmarks. Tickets for the boat sold for $50 and were nearly sold out, but spectators along the river cheered on their favorite vessel for free.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron man Jeffery Smerer, 44, was sentenced Thursday to one year in jail and must register as a sex offender for exposing himself to a child at a local daycare. Judge Mona Armstrong noted Smerer showed no remorse, calling his guilty plea a “cunning calculation.” The victim’s mother described lasting trauma, saying her daughter now sees a counselor weekly. Smerer is also facing 10 felony charges in connection with the recent shooting of his children, with his next hearing pending.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet