George James

A local teenager is expanding his outdoors business and getting his products on the shelves of local stores. Andrew Raymo, who is just 16 years old and a resident of Fort Gratiot, is the owner of Big Drew’s Custom Outdoor Goods, where he makes and sells custom painted lures and hand tied flies for fishing. 

Andrew’s fishing products are on the shelves at Anderson’s ProBait in Port Huron and just made their debut at Jay’s Marine Hardware in Downtown Port Huron. Andrew said he has stocked some new colors at Jay’s and it is the perfect location for anglers to stock up their tackle boxes on the way out onto the water. The young entrepreneur also sells on his website and at shows like the upcoming Home, Sport, and Garden Show in Port Huron. 

Andrew says he started making his own lures around the age of 14 and was encouraged to make it into a business. He describes himself as a “local kid trying to get into the outdoors business” and was sure to thank his family and friends for their encouragement. Andrew is a Junior at Port Huron Northern High School and enrolled in the Blue Water Middle College where he is pursuing an Associates in Science with hopes of having a career in the Outdoors industry.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Four suspects have been arraigned following a pair of raids last week by the St. Clair County Drug Task Force (DTF). According to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, on March 2nd at about 7:00 p.m., the DTF executed a search warrant at a home in the 1100 block of Division Street in the city of Port Huron. Once inside the residence, members of the Drug Task Force located and seized about $600 worth of crystal methamphetamine, two firearms, drug paraphernalia and cash. Duane Doan, a 39-year-old man from Port Huron was arrested at the scene and lodged at the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center (IDC). Doan was arraigned in 72nd District Court and charged with delivery-manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a felon, among other charges with a bond set at $25,000 cash/surety. Doan will be back in court for a probable cause hearing on March 17th at 9:00 a.m. 

The next day, on March 3rd, at about 9:00 p.m., a raid was executed at the Clair Inn Motel in Marysville. Members of the Drug Task Force located and seized about $1,300 worth of Xanax pills, a small amount of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Three suspects were arrested at the motel and lodged at the IDC, then arraigned in 72nd District Court. Miguel Hulbert, a 23-year-old man from Kalamazoo is charged with delivery-manufacture of analogue pills and bringing contraband into a prison. His bond was set at $10,000 cash/surety. Julius Robinson, a 22-year-old man from Mattawan, Michigan is charged with bringing contraband into a prison and lying to a police officer. His bond was set at $5,000 cash/surety. Christopher Steinmacher, a 22-year-old man from Port Huron is charged with possession of analogue pills, carrying a concealed weapon and maintaining a drug house. His bond was set at $5,000 cash/surety. All three are scheduled for a probable cause hearing on March 17th at 9:00 a.m. in 72nd District Court.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

It could be said that FIRST Robotics Team 6344, the Yale Jiggawattz’, had an electrified performance at the FRC Milford District Event Friday and Saturday where the team wrapped up their weekend ranked third among the 40 teams competing. While the team’s alliance was knocked out in the quarterfinals, they left Milford with a 10-4 win-loss record and the Industrial Design award sponsored by General Motors.

While Yale stood out with its top-three performance, other Blue Water Area Robotics Alliance teams had solid performances Friday and Saturday. Also competing at the Milford District Event at Milford High School in Highland Township was Team 5167, the Marysville Vi-Bots, who finished the weekend ranked 11th with an 8-6 win-loss record. Knocked out in the quarterfinals, the Vi-Bots brought home the Team Spirit Award sponsored by Fiat Chrysler.

Three BWARA teams competed at the Kettering University II District Event in Flint. Finishing at the top of the rankings among those teams was Team 5046, the Jacked Up Jackets from Memphis High School. The Jackets made it to the semi-final rounds where they were knocked out in back-to-back losses finishing up their weekend play with a 11-6 win-loss record. The Jackets were winners of the Excellence in Engineering Award sponsored by Delphi.

Also competing at Kettering from the area Friday and Saturday was Team 7192, Cros-Lex High School’s Blue Thunderneers. The Thunderneers wrapped up their weekend ranked 14.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Sandusky teacher Erin Carlson has received the Excellence in Education Award by the Michigan Lottery. A Stem, Enrichment, and English teacher at Sandusky Junior/Senior High School, Mrs. Carlson traveled to Lansing on March 3rd to receive the award and film a video that will be shown on multiple television channels throughout the state beginning March 19. 

According to Sandusky Junior/Senior High Principal, Steve Carlson, “Erin accepted her $1,500 personal award and the $500 donation to a program of her choice at Sandusky High School. Erin has decided that she wants that donation to go to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.” Mrs. Carlson was nominated for the award by Mrs. Jaime Nicol, who Principal Carlson described as another “amazing educator in her own right” who “recognizes the work of others”. 

Mrs. Carlson had actually been nominated several times before, but this particular nomination led to a win. The Michigan Lottery accepts nominations for public school teachers throughout the year. More information along with the videos of the winning teachers can be found at the Michigan Lottery’s website.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Representatives from the Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center (BWROC) will deliver a presentation at the Richmond town hall meeting on March 19, at 7:00pm. The presentation, entitled, “Opioids: How to Spot It; What Every Parent Needs to Know,” is being provided in cooperation with the Richmond School District and will focus on educating parents of school- age teens and children within the community on the signs of potential opiate use and abuse.

BWROC was founded as a non–profit 501(c)3 recovery community organization helping those struggling with addiction and their families. BWROC’s Center Manager, Patrick Patterson says they, “are in a unique position to help educate community members,” because the staff is made up of people who have either gone through addiction and recovery or experienced it through a loved-one.

The Town Hall will be held in the Richmond High School auditorium. More information can be found at bwroc.org.

In addition to narrowing down what’s left of the presidential candidates, voters in both St. Clair and Sanilac counties will be presented with a few ballot proposals in tomorrow’s election. There are three school millage questions on the ballot. East China School District is trying again after a school bond proposal that failed last year. The revamped proposal has a nearly $113 million price tag and is intended to be used for remodeling and improvements to existing buildings and grounds.
Both Yale Public Schools and Marlette Community Schools are asking for operating millage renewals. Yale is asking for a five-year sinking fund renewal. There are also some municipal proposals up for the vote. The city of Memphis has a Capital Improvement/Capital Project Millage on the ballot with the hope to rebuild and renovate community buildings. Casco Township has a four-year road improvement renewal millage.

In Sanilac County, the whole county is voting on a recycling millage of .15 mills along with a renewal of the county library millage of .2 mills which is expected to raise over $326,000. Sanilac County is also looking to renew the Medical Control Emergency Millage while several Sanilac County townships also have ballot proposals for fire protection and road improvements. Moore Township has an ordinance on the ballot that would allow for commercial solar energy installations.