George James

MDHHS Publishes 2022 Eat Safe Fish Guide

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released their 2022 Eat Safe Fish Guides to educate anglers about the safety of Great Lakes fish. The main concern is mercury contamination, which could build up in the human body if too large of a quantity of fish is eaten.

There are statewide guidelines, as well as recommendations for specific bodies of water. The guide is just that: a guide. There are no laws or rules, but the information is provided as a service, after lab testing of fish from different lakes, rivers, and streams.

Eating fish is generally healthy, but pollution does have an effect on the safety of certain fish. The chemicals of concern in Michigan are mercury and PCBs, PFAS, and PFOS.

For the Blue Water Area, the Guide recommends no more than six servings of walleye per year from the St. Clair River, but one or two servings of walleye per month, depending on the size of the fish caught, is safe from Lake Huron.

Southeast Michigan EAT SAFE FISH GUIDE  

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

As Picnic Season Arrives, Be Mindful of Food Safety

Spring brings celebrations and gatherings, many of which include serving food. Keeping food safe and preventing food born illnesses is easy if a few precautions are taken.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reminding consumers to be careful with food as warm weather makes its way to the state.

Tim Slawinski, MDARD’s Food and Dairy Division Director, said, “Whether you’re packing a picnic, for a sporting event or outdoor recreation, or planning a backyard barbecue, it’s crucial to follow simple food safety tips to protect your family and friends from foodborne illness.”

Those steps include frequent handwashing, preparing as much at home as possible as opposed to at the destination, and making sure the cooler has plenty of ice. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

If foodborne illness is suspected, MDARD wants to know. Local health departments should be contacted first. They will report to MDARD, which will investigate to determine if it is an isolated incident, or if a common food source is a culprit.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Empty the Shelters” Event Reduces Adoption Fee to $25 at SCC Animal Control

A national campaign to move animals out of shelters and into loving homes coincides with a local shelter being at capacity. The BISSELL Pet Foundation is sponsoring the “Empty the Shelters” initiative that reduces adoption fees to $25.

St. Clair County Animal Control Director Melissa Miller said, “This event is coming at a great time. St. Clair County Animal Control is at critical capacity for dogs and cats.”

Miller said that adoptable animals can be viewed online at their website, on PetFinder, or on their Facebook page.

The “Empty the Shelters” event goes from now until May 7th and again from May 9th to 13th. St. Clair County Animal Control will be open for reduced-fee adoptions May 5th through 6th from 10:30 to 3:30 p.m., May 7th from noon to 3:30, and May 9th through May 13th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Animal Control prefers appointments, but they are not required. Appointments can be scheduled at animalcontrol@stcalircounty.org.

https://www.petfinder.com/search/dogs-for-adoption/us/mi/48060/?distance=10

https://stclairmi.animalservices.website/shelterpronet/spn_page_as_main.spn

https://www.facebook.com/adoptsccac

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Schools Kicks Off Strategic Planning with Community Survey

It’s time to have your voice heard by Port Huron Schools. The district has crafted a short four-question survey to help them in moving forward with their strategic planning process.

In a communication with parents and community members, Superintendent Theo A. Kerhoulas invited stakeholders to fill out the survey.

The survey asks four questions: What are you proud of in the Port Huron Area School District? What challenges do you feel the district is facing? What should our schools provide for students? What does success look like for our students in the future?

Kerhoulas reported that the strategic planning process began with a meeting of community stakeholders who came up with several “actionable items and an aggressive timeline”. The survey is the first of the action items.

The survey window is open from now until May 13th, 2022. It is open to staff, students, parents, and community members.

A link to the Port Huron School Community Survey can be found below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXLJjSBw0-cYJcaza6EHGMTaTmuAubmYYa47eeIiA_as8Afg/viewform?usp=send_form

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Open Meetings Act Expanded to Require Audio Recordings

A bill to expand the Open Meetings Act was signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Monday.

The bipartisan legislation requires public meetings of state licensing boards, state commission panels, and state rule-making boards to record meetings to allow for the capture of sound, such as an audio-only recording, a video recording with sound and picture, or a broadcast that is capable of being recorded.  

The bill was introduced about a year ago by Representative Luke Meerman, a Republican from Coopersville. While the Open Meetings Act makes state and local government meetings open to public attendance, the expansion of the law requires the governing bodies to at least make an audio recording that records the entire meeting, including public comments, and makes the recording available to anyone who makes a request.

The bill was opposed by some state government agencies but passed with limited opposition in both chambers of the legislature.

Whitmer said the law would “will help Michiganders have more confidence in their public bodies”.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Ducks Unlimited, DNR, Audubon Work to Enhance St. Clair Flats

The St. Clair Flats area, located in the southern tip of St. Clair County, is home to a diverse bird species and is a destination for kayakers and canoers who want to view the interesting wildlife. The area is getting revitalized with the cooperation of Ducks Unlimited, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Audubon Great Lakes.

Kali Rush, Michigan Regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited said, “As society develops more and more of our landscape, natural areas such as St. Clair Flats take on an even greater importance for people and wildlife. We are proud to work with the DNR and Audubon on public lands that are so close to Metro Detroit and in the middle of a major bird migratory route.”

The wetlands not only serve as a habitat for birds but prevent flooding and filter water. Agencies have already been working on improving the 2600 acres of wetlands, but the next phase includes replacing water-management infrastructure to better control water levels and improve habitat on 1500 acres of wetlands on Harsens Island.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland