George James

EGLE Teaches About Effective Recycling

“America Recycles Day” is celebrated in November and draws attention to the importance of household recycling. Not all recycled items are equal. There needs to be a market for recycled items, particularly plastics, for them to actually get recycled.

Matt Flechter, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Recycling Market Development Specialist said, “Containers such as shampoo bottles, milk jugs and yogurt cups or similar food tubs are the easiest to recycle and are in highest demand by recycling centers and U.S. manufacturers.”

Most people look at the number on the bottom of plastic containers and assume that means it is recyclable. That’s not always the case, according to EGLE. The shape of the item is the most important factor.

Generally, soft drink, juice, and water bottles, usually with a #1 on them, are easily recycled back into bottles or used to make carpet, luggage, and polyester. Laundry and shampoo bottles, #2 plastics, can also be recycled back into high-density plastic, and yogurt and margarine tubs, usually #5 plastics, are easily recyclable.

https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy/america-recycles-day

RecyclingRaccoons.org

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

November is Adoption Month with 200 Kids Looking for Families

It’s Adoption Month in Michigan and November 23rd has been proclaimed as “Adoption Day”. Courts statewide are hosting special adoption ceremonies.

Michigan has 11,000 children in foster care. There are 200 of those children awaiting permanent adoption.

Demetrius Starling, executive director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Services Agency said, “MDHHS believes that every child deserves a forever family. Our goal is to find permanent homes for children as soon as we can. Adoptive families from teens in foster care are especially needed.”

MDHHS has focused on keeping families together as part of their policy over the past three years, which has resulted in 3,000 less children in foster care since 2018. They report that more than 1,650 children were adopted from Michigan’s child welfare system over the past fiscal year.

Anyone interested in adopting from foster care can contact the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange at 800-589-6273, or see biographies and photos of children available for adoption at www.mare.org.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Got a Deer? Report it to DNR, Please

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to report their deer harvest online.

The DNR uses the information to manage the state’s deer population. While not required, the DNR highly encourages voluntary reporting.

Those who choose to report will need to give their hunting license number, date of birth, what season you are hunting in, such as archery or firearm, and date of harvest. Hunters will also need to know the county in which the deer was taken, the deer management unit where you were hunting, and whether the deer was antlered or antlerless, and how many points an antlered deer has.

The DNR also asks for the location of the harvest, but keeps that information private and used for their statistical purposes only. No one has to share their top-secret hunting spot.

For those who report their harvest, they can get a DNR Deer Patch from a deer check station. They will just need to show their harvest report confirmation number.

A link to the Michigan DNR’s Harvest Reporting website can be found below.

https://www.mdnr-elicense.com/harvestreport

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Township Hires Randy Vesper as New Fire Chief

Randy Vesper has been named the new Fire Chief for Port Huron Township. The seasoned firefighter has come full circle in his career as he returns to St. Clair County, after starting as a volunteer firefighter with the Kenockee Township Fire Department as a teenager, retiring from the St. Clair Shores Department after 25 years of service, and now taking on the Chief role in Port Huron Township.

Along with retiring as a Battalion Chief, Vesper earned a Masters Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Vesper said he looks forward to continuing to work with firefighters and leading the department. He plans to continue the work that Chief Mainguy has done in improving response and staffing. Continued training in both fire and emergency medical training is a priority for Vesper.

Vesper said, “One of the biggest challenges facing the fire service is staffing. Port Huron Township Fire Department is not immune to those issues.  Recruitment and retention are key to building a strong department and the fire service as a whole.”

Vesper also said that interagency cooperation is important to providing service and that he looks forward to working with neighboring departments to meet the needs of the community.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bus Drivers Desperately Needed in Most Districts

There is a desperate need for school bus drivers. Local districts are having to cut routes and kids are the ones who get left out in the cold when buses have to be late. It is a huge disruption to instruction as well when schools are waiting on late buses and kids are absent with no ride to school.

First Student, which operates buses for the Port Huron Area School District, is advertising a $2000 sign-on bonus and other perks like a Child Ride-Along Program, paid training, and flexible hours.

Bus Driver working hours are definitely unique, with an early start to the day and a long break mid-day, but school holidays and summer vacations are also part of the schedule.

First Student takes applications from those who are over 21, have a driver’s license, and have a good driving record.

Yale Public Schools is actively looking for bus drivers as well and has had to cut some routes to accommodate staffing shortages. St. Edward on the Lake, Landmark Academy, Dean Transportation, and others are also looking for bus drivers.

Advertised pay for various districts is between $16 and $20 per hour with varied signing bonuses. Substitute drivers are also needed.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland