George James

Sanborn Multi-Use Trail Ready for Walkers, Joggers, and Bikers with June 28th Ribbon Cutting

The Sanborn Park Multi-Use Trail is getting officially launched on June 28th at 4:00 p.m. The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the new trail.

The trail is notable as it is natural and unpaved and suitable for walkers, joggers, and bike riders. There is an outside loop for beginning riders and two inner BMX lines for experienced riders.

Melanie Chandler, co-supervisor of the Port Huron Recreation Department, said that the Department saw a resurgence of outside play, particularly outside city parks, and they wanted to create more interesting opportunities for that.

Chandler said, “After visiting other communities with similar bike trails, we were excited to offer this to our own community. With help from the City of Lapeer, we completed the trail in April. We hope everyone enjoys it.”

Care was taken to preserve the environment at the park, which is heavily wooded, with cooperation from the Friends of the St. Clair River. Funding for the trail was provided by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund.

The trail entrance is east of the playground at Sanborn Park on the north side of the City of Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bill to Pay Student Teachers Passes State House

A bill has passed the Michigan House of Representatives that would allow for both student teachers and teacher mentors to be compensated.

House Bill 6013 was introduced by State Representative Pamela Hornberger, a Republican from Chesterfield Township. The bill creates a grant program for school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies to apply for and to use to pay the student educators and their mentors.

Student teachers currently pay tuition to student teach, which is usually an uncompensated full-time internship. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by the governor, the bill would allow for student teachers to be paid $90 per day, and for mentors to be paid a stipend of $1000.

Hornberger said, “Student teachers are apprentices in the education field and should be compensated just as apprentices in other fields are. Providing this stipend to them will ensure our students continue to receive a quality education from good teachers.”

The legislature will have to appropriate funding if signed into law, and it is not currently tied to a funding bill. The bill is supported by several education industry boards and associations

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Michigan Wild Rice, or Manoomin, Could Become Official Native Grain of Michigan

Does Michigan need an official native grain? A group of state lawmakers, including Senator Dan Lauwers, a Brockway Township Republican, think so.

Lauwers was one of many cosponsors of the bipartisan bill that was introduced by Senator Adam Hollier, a Democrat from Detroit.

The lawmakers want to designate Michigan wild rice, which is technically called manoomin, as the official native grain of Michigan. Why wild rice? The bill says, “Manoomin is a sacred and important component to many wetlands and has a cultural significance to the indigenous people of this state.”

“Sacred” is a strong word, but the bill explains that the grain is a cultural staple for the Anishinaabeg people,  the group of tribes that includes the Ojibwe.

Michigan wild rice, or manoomin, grows in shallow to moderate water depths. It is a persistent natural grass that grows year after year in the Great Lakes Region.

The bill has been reported favorably by the Committee on Agriculture and would need to be approved by both the Senate and the House, and signed by the Governor.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Over 200 Million Vehicles Have Crossed the Mackinac Bridge

A lot of cars cross the Mackinac Bridge every day, but who’s counting? The Mackinac Bridge Authority is counting, and they decided to recognize the 200 millionth vehicle that crossed the bridge.

Fifty million vehicles have crossed since 2009, with an average of 11,600 vehicles crossing per day.

To commemorate the crossing of the 200 millionth vehicle, the Bridge Authority surprised the occupants of the car that achieved the milestone with a gift basket and the photo op of a lifetime.

The Dalman family of Tawas City was on their way to Pictured Rocks on Wednesday, June 15th, when they were stopped.

Mackinac Bridge Authority Chairman Patrick “Shorty” Gleason said, “It’s our customers who pay the tolls that support the ongoing operation and maintenance of the Mackinac Bridge, so it’s only right that we recognize this milestone in the bridge’s 65-year history. “

Gleason added, “The bridge has been a critical connection for our state for more than six decades now, but it’s remarkable to know that so many vehicles, and countless more people, have crossed in that time.”

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Financial Literacy to Be Part of Required High School Curriculum Starting in 2024

A bipartisan bill was signed into law requiring high school curriculums to include a financial literacy course. The bill is meant to prepare high school students for the future and empower them to handle their finances prudently.

The bill’s sponsor, State Representative Diana Farrington, a Utica Republican, said, “Personal finance education will serve as a launchpad for Michigan graduates lifting off into adulthood, so they won’t be caught off guard by the financial decisions that await them.”

Farrington said, “The course will teach students how to manage their finances. They’ll be prepared to make smart, everyday budget choices — and equipped to handle the challenges that come their way. Establishing a core class dedicated to financial literacy has been a years-long labor of love for me, and I’m truly excited for the students who will fly to new heights through a fuller, richer education.” 

High schools will need to figure out how to meet the requirement of a half-credit of personal finance education by 2024, starting with that year’s ninth graders.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland