George James

Horse Tests Positive for Strangles

Horse owners in St. Clair County should stay alert after a 13-year-old gelding tested positive for strangles just before Christmas. The horse showed signs like fever, runny nose, and fast breathing starting mid-December. He is now quarantined at home to stop the spread. Strangles is a very contagious bacterial infection that passes easily between horses through contact or shared items. Local barns are reminded to quarantine new arrivals, clean equipment thoroughly, and watch for early symptoms to protect their herds during the holiday season. Most horses recover fully.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Storm Reduced Visibility on Mackinac Bridge

Drivers in northern Michigan were urged to slow down while crossing the Mackinac Bridge on Monday as dangerous winter weather moved through the Straits. Strong winds and blowing snow reduced visibility to near zero, making the five-mile bridge invisible on all live traffic cameras. The conditions were tied to a powerful winter storm that dropped heavy snow across the Upper Peninsula. Officials warned roads were slick and advised drivers to keep speeds at or below 20 miles per hour as crews closely monitored conditions.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Prowlers Unveil NHL-Style Upgrades

Port Huron hockey fans are in for a treat at McMorran Arena this season. New owner Ken Andrews has transformed Port Huron Prowlers games into an NHL-like spectacle. Players burst onto the ice through roaring flamethrowers with epic videos projected right onto the surface. Giant screens deliver live action, instant replays, stats, and crowd shots just like on TV. A bigger team store too. Plus, a real thunderous goal horn shakes the building. The Prowlers take on the Indiana Sentinels Friday evening.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Woman Hospitalized After Swerving to Avoid Tractor

On December 22nd in Fremont Township near Marlette, a 59-year-old local woman crashed her Jeep Cherokee while trying to avoid a slow-moving tractor on Todd Road. As dusk fell, she couldn’t gauge the distance to the tractor’s flashing lights and swerved off the road to miss it. Her vehicle crossed a ditch, jumped a driveway, and landed in a nearby yard. She suffered possible injuries and was taken to McLaren Port Huron hospital. Alcohol wasn’t involved, and the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Help Finding Missing Man

Authorities in St. Clair County need your help finding a local man who’s gone missing under worrying circumstances. Forty-eight-year-old Donald Haynes from Fort Gratiot walked away from his home on December 5th without his car, wallet, or phone—and no one’s heard from him since. He’s a white man with dark brown or black hair, brown eyes, and a dark beard that’s starting to gray. If you’ve seen Donald around the Port Huron area or have any tips, call St. Clair County Central Dispatch right away at 810-985-8115.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Free Winter Fun

Residents in Port Huron and the Blue Water Area can shake off the cold this winter with a lineup of free and family-friendly events starting in January. The International Silver Stick youth hockey tournament brings teams from the U.S. and Canada over three exciting weekends. St. Clair hosts its Icy Bazaar with massive ice carvings, fireworks, live music, and a brand-new drone show. Downtown Port Huron’s Chilly Fest features ice sculptures, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a fun chili cook-off. The fun wraps up in March with SC4’s free STEM Fest.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet