George James

Local Technical Education students completed the first step in their quest toward the National Competition in Kentucky. Saturday was a big day for 130 students who attend the Technical Education Programs at the St. Clair County RESA, as well as the industries that rely on a skilled labor force.

Students from ten programs, from construction to cosmetology, competed in the local Skills USA Program, held at the Marysville campus. Tom Koehler RESA’s TEC program School to Work Coordinator, said that the event puts students, teachers, and the business community together to give kids opportunities to compete for possible scholarships and job opportunities as they advance through the levels. Judges for the event include industry leaders in the represented fields as well as past students who are part of the TEC Advisory Board. Skills USA is a national organization that works to fill the gaps in the workforce for the skilled trades.

According to a report from the Associated General Contractors, with the retiring baby boomers and the lack of skilled trades, there will be a half million jobs to fill in Michigan alone by 2026.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

The 72nd District Court in St. Clair County will be undergoing some changes. Judge Cynthia Platzer has announced her retirement, effective at the end of this month. Her current term ends December of 2020. Governor Whitmer will be required to appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term. Judge Platzer was elected to the court in 2002, following Judge John Cummings on the bench, and took her oath of office in January of 2003. She was re-elected in 2014 in an unopposed race. 

Judge Platzer graduated from the University of Michigan in 1975 and received her law degree from the Detroit College of Law in 1981. Judge Platzer has presided over many high-profile criminal cases during her tenure. She has been involved in both the St. Clair County Mock Trial Competition and the D.A.R.E. Program, which teaches 5th graders about the dangers of substance abuse. She has also publicly endorsed the work of Operation Transformation in the fight against substance abuse and recidivism. She has been regarded as a no-nonsense judge who gets things done and who tries to expedite justice.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

There has been quite a bit of recent buzz about Ring security cameras and hackers invading people’s personal privacy. In the recently reported cases, individuals who had Ring cameras installed in bedrooms and living spaces, were shocked to hear unknown individuals spying on unsuspecting family members activities. The incidents have prompted an official statement from the Ring team. While Ring did confirm that the incidents were, in fact, real, the company denies that it was a breach in their system.

In the official statement sent out to customers, Ring said users can rest assured they’ve investigated these incidents and did not find any indication of an unauthorized intrusion or compromise of Ring’s systems or network. The organization said it was rather, “Malicious actors [that] obtained some Ring users’ account credentials (like a username and password) from a separate, external, non-Ring service and reused them to log into some Ring accounts. If you have a Ring camera, the company recommends using two-factor authentication and adding shared users instead of sharing your account information to avoid hacking.

Whether you have a service through Ring or not, it’s an important reminder to use different passwords, update them regularly and keep guard for your information as much as you can.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Funds collected from the St. Clair Inn’s celebratory grand opening last month are being donated to local youth. Lelito’s Legacy Foundation Donor Advised Fund will receive and then match a $4,500 grant from the Inn. A total of $9,000 will be used to benefit more than 115 students in 15 local middle and high school athletic programs who cannot afford pay-to-play fees.

Jeff Katofsky, owner of the St. Clair Inn, said the group wanted “to give back to the community that has so greatly supported [them] in the restoration of the Inn and helped to provide the funds for [their] first grant that will have double the impact, thanks to the match from Lelito’s Legacy Foundation Donor Advised Fund.”

Lelito’s Legacy Foundation is a registered non-profit organization that aids student athletes by eliminating financial barriers and creating healthy opportunities for deserving youth. Their programs are open to all student athletes and their grants stay in our Thumbcoast Region.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Christmas Dinner is something that most people look forward to all year long. But, for some, it can be a lonely day if there is no one to celebrate with. The SOS Marysville Food Bank is offering residents an option to spend Christmas with others as they will be hosting the annual Community Christmas Dinner to be held at Marysville United Methodist Church on Huron Boulevard. 

Last year, over 1,300 people were served and the organization is expecting similar numbers this year. Volunteers begin preparing the meal at 6 a.m. on Christmas morning and work until late afternoon. Dinners are available for delivery and takeout also. 

Carmella Burns’ team of volunteers with the food bank are especially concerned with the area’s senior citizens and those who are living in shelters, making sure that meals are delivered to them. Burns started the event with her family about six years ago and has watched it grow into a tradition that engages a host of community groups from law enforcement to robotics teams to churches, as volunteers prepare, serve, and deliver the meals.

For Ms. Burns, the highlight is seeing the people donating their time. Volunteers often enjoy it so much that they are hesitant to leave, even on Christmas. The dinner is ham or turkey with all the side dishes and dessert. To volunteer or to reserve a dinner, call 810-364-6333.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The Harsens Island mainland ferry dock collapsed into the river last week causing chaos for some local residents and leaving many vehicles stranded on the downriver island. The good news, although longer than originally expected, is that the ferry is back to a normal operating schedule as of 6 p.m. Monday evening. While heavy trucks are still on hold, cars and light trucks can now cross with garbage pickup also resuming on the island this coming Friday. 

The dock collapse came about a month after the ferry owners submitted a repair plan to the Michigan State Police citing the summer’s high water levels as the reason for the need to limit the types and weights of vehicles. 

The downstream, mainland dock had already been temporarily taken out of service to begin repairs that included new pipes for stabilization and a hinge foundation. The project was supposed to be completed in late spring, but the recent collapse will likely change that timeline. A passenger boat has been operating through Clay Township for individual passengers in the time since the incident. Champion’s Auto Ferry, a privately owned business, owns and operates the sole ferry service to and from Harsens Island.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.