George James

Inter-community Busses Roll Next Week in Southwest Ontario

Sarnia, ON — Starting August 4th, a new transit service will connect the Southwestern Ontario communities of Sarnia, Strathroy-Caradoc, and London. The service, operated by the Voyago transportation company, will offer three round trips daily and two weekend round trips.

The busses will have a maximum seating capacity of 10 to 12 passengers, which may increase as needed. Frequent cleaning, exact cash payment, and other precautionary measures will be taken. Masks are required for all passengers.

Mayor Mike Bradley, of Sarnia, praised the new service, saying, “The wheels on the bus go round and round starting August 4th, providing long needed intercity bus service to South Western Ontario to bring us together.” Bradley’s sentiments were echoed by London Mayor, Ed Holder, who said, “A critical piece of our economic recovery depends on our ability to get people to and from work in a convenient and affordable manner. This need is not only local, it is also regional.”

The inter-community transit service is funded through the year 2023. Fares range between $5 and $20 and need to be reserved by phone at 519-787-1055.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Fights Back Against EPA Clean Water Act Ruling

Michigan has joined a lawsuit that challenges the Trump Administration in regard to the Clean Water Act and states’ rights. Opposition has been building since April of 2019, but when a final ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency was issued on July 13th of this year, states wasted no time in fighting back.

The Clean Water Act had given states the authority to halt federal projects, but a Trump administration order changed the states’ right to act in their own best interest, according to the Democratic Attorneys General filing the lawsuit. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “Decisions about the well-being of Michigan’s residents shouldn’t be made behind closed doors in Washington D.C.” 

The multi-state lawsuit says that the order makes it harder to protect waters and wetlands nationwide. The federal projects called into question include hydropower and pipeline construction, along with housing and commercial land development. The regulations that were changed have been in effect for decades and across multiple administrations.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern district of California and asks for the EPA ruling to be declared unlawful.

Reporting for WGRT –  Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Police Academy Citizens’ Police Academy to Start September 16

Port Huron, MI — The Citizens’ Police Academy, sponsored by the Port Huron Police Department, has rescheduled the start date for the 2020 session, and there is still room for more applicants.

The Department has announced that they are accepting applications until September 2nd. The postponed session, originally scheduled to begin in April, now starts on September 16th.

Classes will be held on Wednesday nights from 6-9 p.m. at the Municipal Office Center in Downtown Port Huron, until September 28. There is no cost to participate in the Academy. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Both new applicants and those who already applied for the Academy will be contacted by the Police Department.

Those attending the Citizens’ Police Academy will learn about a variety of topics, including criminal law, arrests, the major crimes unit, investigations and many others. Applications can be picked up at the police department or at porthuronpolice.org.

Social distancing, masks, and temperature checks will be required for those participating in the Citizens’ Police Academy.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

New Cancer-fighting Equipment Donated to McLaren Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — Men battling prostate cancer have a new weapon for fighting the disease, thanks to the generosity of the community. A new BK 3000 Ultrasound machine has been purchased for McLaren Port Huron Hospital by the Betty Kearns Cancer Foundation, the Thomson Family, and the Tee It Up to Beat Cancer charity.

The innovative new equipment allows for safer treatment of prostate cancer using the SpaceOAR procedure. This new machine enables brachytherapy, a type of cancer-fighting radiation therapy, while protecting other organs which were susceptible to damage without the BK 3000.  

The Betty Kearns Cancer Fund helps men and women in the community who are fighting cancer. Their major fundraiser is the “Little Black Dress” fundraiser which hosted over 850 guests and raised $55,000 in March of this year. Tee It Up to Beat Cancer is a grassroots charity that raises money through golf outings at Lakeview Hills Golf Resort in Lexington. Both charities are committed to assisting all types of cancer patients in the Blue Water area.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Food Giveaways Coming to Yale, Capac, and Algonac on August 3rd

Port Huron, MI — Three more food giveaway trucks have been added to the St. Clair County Community Impact Day roster by the United Way of St. Clair County and Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The distributions are planned for August 3rd.

Yale Community Food Bank, the C3 Connection, and Community First Health Centers are partnering with the United Way and the Food Bank to stop hunger in the outlying areas of the county.

A pop-up pantry with free drive through giveaways will be at Yale Middle School, located at 1 School Drive in Yale, at 9:00 a.m. on August 3rd. Another Popup Pantry will be at St. John Lutheran Church, located at 109 E. Kempf Court in Capac, also at 9:00 a.m. There will be a third pop-up pantry at Community First Health Center located at 555 St. Clair River Drive in Algonac at 11:00am, also on August 3rd.

Food supplies are limited and are available completely free of charge on a first-come-first-serve basis. More food resources can be found at uwstclair.org/healthfirst.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland