George James

No Car Insurance? Time is Running Out to Get it Penalty-Free

Driving without auto insurance is illegal, but it’s a reality for a lot of drivers for a variety of reasons. Those who have been driving while uninsured can take advantage of Michigan’s uninsured motorist amnesty period to get legally insured without penalty fees..

The grace period expires on January 1st of 2022. Over 100,000 people have been able to get insurance penalty-free since the program began.

Anita Fox, Director of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services said, “Prior to the amnesty period, drivers who had let their insurance lapse faced potentially expensive penalties and fees if they later tried to purchase an auto insurance policy.”

Fox said that the amnesty period ensures that those fees will not be charged if the driver applies for a policy before the January 1, 2022 deadline. She said that now is the time to shop for insurance because, after the deadline, those penalty fees can once again be charged.

Twenty percent of Michigan drivers were estimated to be driving uninsured in 2019, often because they can’t afford insurance. The Detroit area has had the highest rates in the nation, but there have been some rate reductions since the passing of the bipartisan Michigan auto insurance reform law.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Plenty of Winter Fun Planned by Port Huron Recreation

Port Huron’s Recreation Department has a winter full of fun on tap for all ages. The 2022 Winter Events and Programs publication has been released and there is a lot going on.

Lunches for senior citizens are back at Palmer Park. The site is a congregate meal site for the St. Clair County Council on Aging. Lunches are served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

There is also the “Oldies Get Goodies” program that delivers “Goodie Bags” to local seniors.

The Recreation Department is hoping for snow and cold with Sledfest on the calendar for January 22nd and the ice rinks at Lincoln and Palmer Parks are open for skaters once the ice freezes.

There are also the usual sports offerings like dance, fencing, drums alive, and karate. Tennis is also offered this year.

Registration begins December 16th for Port Huron residents and December 17th for non-residents. There are scholarship opportunities available.

Looking ahead to summer, registration for Camp Palmer, the summer day camp, begins February 28th for returning families.

A link to the full brochure can be found below.

https://www.porthuronrec.com/_files/ugd/fc6623_35d656b5e3d34091a236a61cec431e18.pdf

Program to Treat Opioid Use and Mental Health Disorders Expanded to Include St. Clair County

People who are struggling with an opioid use disorder and other health problems and who receive Medicaid benefits will now be able to have their healthcare needs met by a coordinated team of healthcare providers.

The plan is called the Opioid Health Home Initiative. The area of service has been expanded to include PIHP Region 10, which includes Genesee, Lapeer, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties.

It is possible that the Opioid Health Home could reach thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries with intensive care management and care coordination.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said, “The expansion of Opioid Health Home program will help address the complexity of physical and behavioral health conditions in Michigan and improve access to essential services. For enrolled beneficiaries, the Health Home will function as the central point of contact for directing patient-centered care across the broader health care system.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that half of Medicaid recipients have an untreated mental health disorder. Two-thirds have an untreated substance abuse disorder. Participation in the Opioid Health Initiative is voluntary.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local Quilters Donate 700 Quilts to Salvation Army

Every holiday season, the Salvation Army delivers gifts to over a thousand kids in the community. This year, many of those kids will be receiving an extra special gift.

Over 700 quilts have been donated by a network of quilters throughout the area. They will be given to children along with the usual donated toys and clothing and food.

Jacki Bennett, who co-owns RMC Quilts in Port Huron, said that the quilts were constructed by quilters from St. Clair, Macomb, and Lapeer counties and that while some people constructed entire quilts from beginning to end, some worked on just the tops, and others took home kits to work on. They got started at the end of June and just sent in the final quilts this week.

Bennett said that there was collaboration from Port Huron’s Sew Elegant store as well as quilting groups in the area. The quilt batting was donated by a supplier. All of the efforts are meant to “wrap the families in love”.

Kelley Herber, the Christmas Angel and Toy Warehouse coordinator for the Port Huron Citadel said the quilt donation has been a true blessing.

For more information about helping the Salvation Army with this year’s Christmas project:

https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/db6ec80e-aa1f-4cb6-8f51-ad11e02b03bc?fbclid=IwAR3wo-b_fR47IamwEPAbvYNq6EUG98PBpaitA3mzXeTPf4HRgb1kx0KSjRE

https://www.amazon.com/registries/holiday/QO2NR2DLVFL/guest-view?ref=gr_search_page_result&fbclid=IwAR1axuvQWTKmWvNQoSRFojWznfJ_rQXFZ-ndQUryH8kQdyk2L-LVPdszj0w

Call the Salvation Army at 810 984-2679

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MDHHS Updates Nursing Home Visiting Guidance

It’s the time of year when more people than usual visit loved ones in long-term care facilities like nursing homes. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued visitation guidance.

The guidance is updated based on recommendations from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.

Routine testing for COVID-19 is part of the guidance, but not a requirement. Mask wearing is required with some exceptions. Unlike last year, when visits were conducted through glass windows and over iPads, this year’s guidance calls for physical touch like hugging if the resident wants it.

Eighty-four percent of Michigan’s long-term care residents are fully vaccinated. As long as they are aware of the risks, and no other residents are put at risk, in-person visits are allowed and can not be restricted.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said, “Long-term care residents receive physical, emotional and spiritual support by visiting with their family and friends, particularly during the holiday season. Our updated guidance provides key steps to take to make these visits as safe and fulfilling as possible.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Fort Gratiot Light Station to Undergo Restoration

The Fort Gratiot Light Station in Port Huron is getting spruced up over the winter. The property, which is part of St. Clair County Parks, is seeing improvements to the Light Tower’s Watch and Lantern Rooms and the Fog Signal Building.

The Lantern Room restorations are made possible by a Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program Grant. The grant is for $16,667 and will be matched with an $8,333 grant from the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light.

The repairs will restore the lantern room to how it looked in the 1930s, which includes new glass windows, metal and masonry repair, paint, and a glass floor.

A new pedestal will be installed to hold the modern LED light that is still used as a navigational aid.

The fog signal building will be getting some repairs to the lower two feet of bricks on the structure.

A candlelight tour of the Light Station is offered on some weekends in December, with more information at phmuseum.org.

The Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light host Sandfest to raise funds for Light Station restoration projects. Sandfest is scheduled for August 5th through 7th of 2022.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland