George James

Dennis Gardner Wins Prestigious Master Farmer Award

What does it take to be a Master Farmer? Ask Fremont Township farmer Dennis Gardner. Gardner is a recipient of the 2022 Michigan Master Farmer Award, given out at the Great Lakes Crop Summit.

The award is for farmers who have demonstrated a lifetime of achievement on their farms, and also in their communities and the agriculture industry. It is the most prestigious award for achievement in the industry that feeds the world.

Gardner said he was totally honored and shocked to receive the award. He was quick to thank his wife, Reta, for her partnership in running their 2000-acre cash crop farm that stretches across both St. Clair and Sanilac counties.

Dennis and Reta Gardner have made farming a family affair with help from both Gardner’s parents, his sister, brother-in-law, and his four daughters, two of whom are already getting their careers started in the agriculture industry. The Gardner team uses the latest in technology to produce corn, soybeans, wheat, and sugar beets.

When asked about the future of family farming, Gardner said it will be hard for some farms to absorb the rising costs of growing food, but that there are still fair amounts of successful family farms.

A link to a video highlighting Gardner’s accomplishment can be found below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL6r0xRnFN4

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

St. Clair Wins MI Clean Water Grant

The City of St. Clair has received a MI Clean Water Grant. It is one of eleven cities, villages, and townships that split the $5 million total award. St. Clair will receive $210,142 from the Drinking Water Asset Management Grant.  

Liesl Clark, director of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, said, “Michigan continues to be committed to helping communities address longstanding water infrastructure deficits. With more federal support on the way for work like removing lead service lines and other pressing needs, we’re pleased to complement those efforts with these innovative grant programs that have been assisting local water systems.” 

The MI Clean Water Plan is investing $500 million into the state’s water infrastructure. The grants are aimed at reducing the risks associated with lead in the drinking water and making improvements to ensure safer tap water.

The MI Clean Water Plan funds improvements to lead lines, toxic contamination, constrained local budgets, unaffordable water rates, and other needs of municipalities.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Karmanos Center Gets Money to Assist with Lodging for Cancer Patients

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute has been awarded a lodging grant by the American Cancer Society. The $50,000 grant is to help those who may face financial barriers to getting cancer treatment.

The Karmanos Cancer Institute has 15 locations, including one at McLaren Port Huron Hospital. The main campus is in Detroit.

Dr. Kathleen Goss, Vice President of Cancer Control for the American Cancer Society said, “Disparities predominantly arise from inequities in work, wealth, income, education, housing and overall standard of living, as well as social barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services.”

Over 60,000 Michigan residents learn they have cancer each year. Finding lodging near cancer centers is often a roadblock to getting care, according to the American Cancer Society. 

In Port Huron, free lodging is available at the Hunter Hospitality Houses.

To learn more about supportive services at Karmanos, call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org.

https://www.hunterhospitalityhouse.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MSU College of Human Medicine in Flint Expanding

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Flint is expanding thanks to a $25 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The grant will fund an increased number of public health faculty, academic research, and community health collaborations.

Flint is at the epicenter of public health policy development in the region after the 2015 discovery of elevated lead levels in children.

Aron Sousa, M.D., interim dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine said, “Our researchers have worked side-by-side with the Flint community to improve lives locally and in communities across the country.”

Sousa said, “Our work in Flint across the city’s water crisis, COVID-19, nutrition and mental health has become a national model.”

Yvonne Lewis, founder and CEO of the National Center for African American Health Consciousness said, “This partnership between the community, Michigan State University, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation gives real credibility and credence to the work, leading to strengthened public health efforts in Flint.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Reimbursement Part of Proposal to Address Teacher Shortages

The Michigan legislature has been asked to address the teacher shortages in public school districts. State Superintendent of Public instruction, Dr. Michael Rice, sent a letter to the legislature with some suggestions as to how to address the teacher vacancies in many struggling school districts.

The letter asks for at least $300 million to be spent over the next five years to address the crisis. That money is intended to be used to reimburse tuition and other expenses for current college students, including district support staff who make a commitment to pursue teaching.

Rice suggests loan forgiveness for recent college grads and current teachers who are paying on loans. He also pointed out a weakness in regional teacher preparation in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula which rely on a single program to produce a substantial number of teacher candidates.

Rice said, “If we expect a major commitment from a wave of young people as our next generation of educators in our great state, the least we can do is make sure that they don’t go into debt to perform this all-important public service.” 

The Michigan Department of Education has several other initiatives in place as well to attract and maintain educators in the state.

 Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Unemployment Insurance Agency Reform Bills Pass House, Head to Senate

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency has been in turmoil since the economy was brought to a halt during the start of the pandemic. Lawmakers have brought forth a series of bills to reform the troubled agency.

State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican, said, “A functional government should carry out its responsibilities in a thorough and timely manner. Those characteristics hardly describe our unemployment agency, which paid over $8 billion in fraud, approved benefits erroneously and slowed down many legitimate claims. The legislation passed by the House will repair the agency after disastrous delays, confusing communications and bungled benefits.”

The state House passed two legislative packages last week. The bills are now headed to the Senate.

The bills call for a clear, expedited timeline in which the UIA can review and decide on claims and more transparency. There would be a new unemployment insurance advocate.

The bills also ensure that nearly 700,000 unemployment recipients who received the money in error but applied honestly, would not have to return the money.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland