George James

According to Port Huron City Manager, James Freed, the University of Wisconsin, in conjunction with Ball State University, is conducting a research project designed to identify Midwest communities with the most economically vital downtowns. One metric the research group is using to gauge economic vitality is the number of downtown businesses per capita. 

In the preliminary results, the City of Port Huron was ranked number seven out of 260 small to midsize communities that were sampled. Due to this finding, students and faculty are eager to learn about strategies that have been used to improve downtown vitality. According to Freed, the city will bee will be participating in research interviews. 

City officials were initially unaware that the study was taking place, lending to an impartial assessment. Freed believes this is, “another affirmation that the gains [the city is]  seeing and feeling are tangible and measurable.” He also said this confirms what “other studies have shown-that Port Huron is making measurable gains.”

The city anticipates taking part in phone and on-site research with faculty and students in the coming weeks as the study is finalized. Freed said he believes a preliminary report has been completed, but a final report should be made available to the public in the near future.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Tuesday was voting day for a few local municipalities around St. Clair County and the results are in. Citizens in Marysville were asked to vote on three open city council seats as well as the mayoral position. Four candidates vied for the three open council seats. Incumbents Kathleen Hayman and Paul Wessel secured another term while Shawn Winston won his first term as a councilmember. Mike Deising fell just short in the race and Jean Cramer who withdrew from the race, but was still on the ballot due to a late withdrawal, received 180 votes. The new mayor of Marysville will be Wayne Pyden who ran uncontested. 

In Fort Gratiot, residents approved  the police protection millage proposal and residents in the City of St. Clair also approved the city employee pension renewal proposal.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Students from Port Huron Northern High School attended the Young Women’s Leadership Conference at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield last week. The sold-out event brought together over 350 teachers and students to explore career possibilities and network with leaders in the technology industries with the goal of igniting “the passion and expanding the interest of women and girls for education and careers in business, IT, and STEM fields.”

Port Huron Northern High School teachers Amy Roach and Trina Northrop took the young women to the conference.  The students were selected because of their involvement in National Honor Society or STEAM programs at Northern. Mrs. Northrop conveyed that the conference was a “great opportunity to inspire young women to stand up and be heard in the competitive workforce.”  She said the strongest message that the students took away from the conference was to “know silence is not an option” and that their young voices are worth being heard. 

This year’s keynote speaker was Laura Jones, who is the Global Talent Director for General Motors. There was also a guest panel of notable leaders in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. These bright young ladies may very well be future leaders in the growing STEM industries right here in the Blue Water Area.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents about an increase in phone scams targeting citizens.  According to Sheriff Gary Biniecki, the Detective Bureau has taken numerous calls within the last week in regards to Social Security Scams and the “police call” or “lawyer call” scam as well. Police are warning residents to use caution in taking these calls and reporting the number if given a call back number message. The Sheriff says his office is recommending that residents remain “mindful and skeptical of unknown callers.” 

As a reminder, if an unknown caller asks for cash, gift cards, credit card numbers or other personal information, the safest move is to refuse the request and check with the police to find if it is a legitimate business, rather than responding right away. It’s also very important to remember not to give out computer or phone log-ins along with personal or financial information to someone who calls. Remember, law enforcement agencies will not ask for this type of information for any reason. Always beware of high pressure techniques like callers demanding that a decision be made on-the-spot. Sheriff Biniecki says that if “it sounds quirky, weird or too good to be true, it probably is.”

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Hunting and fishing are a huge part of Michigan’s economy and culture. Firearm deer season is fast approaching and hunters have been planning for their hunts all year. One part of that planning that has been outlawed since August 2018 is deer baiting. The ban was enacted to try to stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer. 

Hunters have traditionally used apples, carrots, corn, and other agricultural products to attract deer to their hunting blinds, but the Michigan Natural Resources Commission banned the practice to help protect the herds. State Representative Michele Hoitenga, of Manton, in Mid-Michigan, along with Outdoors Activist Ted Nugent, testified earlier this fall before the House Government Operations Committee to try to get the baiting ban removed. Representative Hoitenga has introduced a bill to lift the ban and the bill is making progress, as it has already been approved by the Committee. 

The argument to the ban is that it is unreasonable, since deer naturally graze together on windfall apples and corn in the fields.  Local hunter and outdoorsman, Jon Moore, of Algonac, said that a statewide ban is a little far reaching, but a ban specific to counties with Chronic Wasting Disease makes sense since deer eating from a bait pile can be riskier than natural grazing for the spread of disease.  Most states don’t allow baiting, and Michigan’s deer population is not dwindling. Hunting and fishing licenses bring in $83.5 million, which is 20% of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ budget. The economic impact of hunting statewide, which includes the sale of agricultural products traditionally used for deer baiting, is estimated at $8.9 billion.  We will keep you posted as to how this bill progresses and what it’s impact could be on local hunters.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Home repairs can be a source of financial stress for low income seniors. Thanks to a Federal Community Development Block Grant, Port Huron households that fall within federally established income levels and have a household resident over the age of 62, may be able to get some relief.  

Income eligible seniors who reside in the city of Port Huron can apply for a grant to pay for emergency repairs. Those repairs can include roof replacement, furnace repairs, plumbing updates, and other repairs that can be valued at up to $5,000. Seniors or their caregivers can apply for the grants through the City of Port Huron Community Development Office by calling 810-984-9736. Individuals will need to make an appointment once they have filled out the application. With winter coming, now is the time to make sure seniors’ homes are ready for the cold and the snow. There is no deadline to apply.  The program is ongoing as long as there are funds available. Community Development Block Grants are provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and are intended to assist low to moderate income families.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.