George James

Time to Test for Cancer-Causing Radon in Your Home

It’s easy to test for radon, but homeowners often need a reminder to check for the cancer-causing invisible gas in their homes. This is your reminder.

January was radon action month, but anytime is a good time to test for radon. Radon is present in one out of four Michigan homes. Homes in the Blue Water Area fall into the 10-24% detection rate according to a Michigan testing lab.

Leslie E. Smith, III, Michigan’s statewide indoor radon specialist said, “Residents are encouraged to test for radon every two to five years. And if a radon mitigation system was previously installed in the home, residents are encouraged to test every two years to make sure that radon levels remain below action levels. Buildings settle and shift over time which can change the amount of radon that enters our indoors.”

Smith also advises checking the expiration date on radon tests, as they do expire and can give inaccurate results. Radon test kits can be purchased from health departments and hardware stores, as well as from mi.radon.com.

Visit the following links for more information.

https://mi.radon.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UHDr95nw7E

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

James Freed City of Port Huron

Freed Wins Community Leadership Award for Addressing Unfunded Liabilities

Port Huron City Manager James Freed has won the 2022 Community Leadership Award, given by the Michigan Municipal Executive Association.

Freed was nominated by Lake Isabella Village Manager Tim Wolf in a letter that was endorsed by fifteen city and county officials. In the nomination, Freed was commended for his work in turning around the finances of the city and avoiding impending bankruptcy.

In accepting the award, Freed said, “I am deeply humbled by the recognition of my professional peers. However, this is an award for the entire Port Huron community. We simply could not have made the achievements we have made without the strong and steady leadership of Mayor Repp and the City Council.”

Freed continued, saying, “Their leadership, coupled with the sacrifices of our employees and the understanding of an engaged community about complex issues, made Port Huron a state leader. This award is not about me, but more a reflection on our community as a whole to come together and tackle generational problems.”

Freed’s work in addressing the unfunded liabilities of the City of Port Huron was described as “groundbreaking” by the Michigan Municipal Executive Association.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Millions of Free KN95 Masks Being Distributed

If you’ve been wanting to get your hands on a bigger and better face mask, there are now millions for the taking in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be distributing KN95 masks through community organizations, health departments, and Area Agency on Aging offices. The thicker and tighter fitting masks are thought to be superior to medical masks and cloth masks at fighting the latest strain, Omicron, of the Covid-19 virus.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said, “We are urging Michiganders to mask up to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities from COVID-19. Wearing masks are important in helping limit the spread of COVID-19, particularly the easily spread omicron and delta variants.”

In addition to the MDHHS masks, there are 400 million free masks being distributed throughout the country to stores like CVS, Meijer, Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart, and Sam’s Club.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local EMS Services Make Plans to Address Staffing Shortages

EMS service is at a crossroads, according to Tri-Hospital EMS CEO Ken Cummings. The pandemic shut down many EMT and paramedic training programs and many of them have never resumed business. There are no new graduates to fill the positions for ambulance service providers.

Cummings said that at this point service in St. Clair County has not been affected, but that there have been widespread reports of impacts to service in other areas of the state. Tri-Hospital EMS is down ten or twelve employees but has been making it work.

Ambulance, Fire Chief, and EMS trade associations have asked the legislature and the governor to provide at least $20 million for training programs. Cummings said that is only part of the solution.

Cummings said that increasing wages to make the career attractive to prospective EMTs and paramedics is critical. He is working with local officials to draft language for an emergency services public millage ballot proposal for the August election.

Cummings said that voter support of the millage will solidify ambulance service in the area by ensuring long-term funding.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

$7 Billion GM Investment Could Give Local Economy a Boost

The announcement of a $7 billion investment by General Motors into electric vehicle assembly plants in Michigan is welcome news for local auto suppliers.

Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, said, “GM’s investment in Michigan to support its electric vehicle platforms will create a significant spin-off in the supplier base.  In St. Clair County, we’re already hearing from companies that expect to win contracts supporting one or more of GM’s EV platforms.”

Casey said that this investment is tremendously important for Michigan in maintaining its leading position in the mobility sector.

GM’s investment is expected to retain and create 5,000 jobs at the Orion Township assembly plant and the Ultium battery cell plant in Lansing.

Over the next two decades, the GM investment is expected to generate $28.8 billion in personal income for GM workers, suppliers, and local small businesses. Michigan’s extensive supply chain, some of which is located in the Blue Water Area, has the potential to benefit.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland