George James

Need Help Paying for College? Scholarships and Grants Available

Paying for college takes planning and preparation. Both the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and The Athletic Factory in Port Huron could be able to help.

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County has opened its 2022/2023 Scholarship Application portal on its website. Applications are due March 13th.

One application is all that is needed to apply for most of the Community Foundation Scholarships. The scholarships are for high school or GED graduates and current college students, as well as non-traditional and returning students.

The Athletic Factory is hosting a series of workshops to explain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and the Tuition Incentive Program, or TIP. TIP money is available to students who received Medicaid benefits for two years within a three-year period between age 9 and graduation. Completing the FAFSA is mandatory for receiving any kind of aid at most colleges. 

The workshops are held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Athletic Factory’s location at Trinity Lutheran Church on 10th Street in Port Huron.

Visit the following links for more information on both the Community Foundation Scholarships and the FAFSA and TIP Workshops.

https://app.peachjar.com/flyers/2165604/schools/86647

https://www.stclairfoundation.org/scholarships/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

State AG Reinforces Stiff Penalties for School Threats

Making a threat against a school to get a day off could end with a lot of days off – in jail. Michigan Attorney General released a video explaining the consequences of making threats, whether real or fake.

Nessel said, “Local law enforcement agencies have reported threats on social media that number in the hundreds within their own communities. As a result, kids in our state have missed valuable days of instruction as school administrators are forced to close buildings to keep kids safe.”

Explaining the penalties that can be levied when the perpetrators get caught, Nessel said, “Whether these are real threats made by those intent on doing harm or pranks made by kids trying to get a day off, they are real crimes with real consequences.” 

According to state law, communicating a threat of terrorism is a 20-year felony. Calling in a bomb threat is a 4-year felony and using a phone to make a threat is a 6-month misdemeanor, with more possible charges for each threat against a school employee or student.

The video can be viewed on the Department of Attorney General’s YouTube page. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Office of Rural Development Charged with Reaching Out to Rural Michigan

Rural Michigan could be getting some help with the establishment of the Office of Rural Development within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

On issuing the executive directive to establish the office, Governor Gretchen Whitmer mentioned the “unique challenges and opportunities in our rural communities.”

The responsibilities of the new Office of Rural Development will include collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and others to develop economies of rural areas. Affordable housing is also on the radar for the new Office.

Along with promoting sustainability, environmental preservation, and green energy development, the Office will study population and demographic trends and provide guidance on education-related issues.

Bolstering high-speed internet access in rural communities is a goal for the new Office, as is a collaboration with tribal leaders.

MDARD Director Gary McDowell said, “We are committed to investing in our rural communities and businesses through job creation, broadband and infrastructure expansion.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

SC4 Invites Community to Strong Inside Book Discussion

The whole community is invited to a book discussion, sponsored by the St. Clair County Community College Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The book is Strong Inside by Andrew Maraniss. Copies of the book are available for free through the SC4 Office.

The college is planning a guided book discussion with the author during the fall semester of 2022.

Strong Inside is a biography of Perry Wallace, the first African-American basketball player in the Southeastern Conference, playing for Vanderbilt University. The biography is set in the times of civil rights struggles of the 1960s.

Strong Inside won the Lillian Smith Book Award in 2015, among other accolades.

The author, Andrew Maraniss, is a contributor to ESPN and has written several other history and sports-related books.

https://sc4.edu/event/strong-inside-book-discussion/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

All Kids Can Play Together with the Arc of St. Clair County’s Inclusive Recreation

Inclusive Recreation is a way to get kids of all abilities playing together and learning from each other. The ARC of St. Clair County has organized several opportunities for kids of all abilities to enjoy winter fun while fostering understanding of the things that make each kid unique.

Valorie Hudgens, Executive Director of the Arc of St. Clair County, said that the program helps build friendships between kids with disabilities and kids without disabilities.

The free recreation programs are geared toward children aged three to twelve, but teenagers often enjoy the interactions as well. Due to covid restrictions, all events will be held outdoors, so attendees should bundle up. Hudgens said, “Snow will not slow us down.”

The events are held outside the Community Rooms at Dulhut, Huron, and Gratiot Housing Developments. Participants do not have to live in the neighborhoods to participate. No RSVP is needed; just show up to have fun.

January’s Inclusive Recreation kicks off with Mystery Snow Fun.

The Arc is looking to expand its program into downriver communities in the future.

Call the Arc of St. Clair County at 810-989-9144 for more information.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Student Loan Repayment Pause Extended

Paying on student loans? The payback “pause” has been extended to May 1st, 2022. Loan payments, interest, and collections have been paused since March 13th, 2020.

The repayment plans were set to resume after January 31st, 2022, but the pause has been pushed out a few more months. The interest rates have been set to 0% during the pause, in response to the economic instability caused by the reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collections on defaulted loans have also been suspended, but are expected to resume after the latest extension expires.

Those who borrowed money for educational expenses shouldn’t get their hopes up that the loans will just disappear.

In announcing the extension of the pause, President Biden said, “As we are taking this action, I’m asking all student loan borrowers to do their part as well: take full advantage of the Department of Education’s resources to help you prepare for payments to resume.” He suggested looking at options to lower your payments through income-based repayment plans and to explore public service loan forgiveness.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland