George James

After much anticipation the new Marysville City Hall is now open. Marysville Mayor Dan Damman said the new city hall was built at a cost of two million dollars and the project came in on time and under budget. Marysville’s City Council evaluated it’s infrastructure, and plans to build a new city hall were formulated in late 2017 and early 2018. To rehabilitate the old city hall and bring it up to current standards would have cost 1.4 million. Damman said the old city hall property was valued at around $500,000. After selling the old city hall, it brought the cost to build a new city hall down to an amount that was close to rehabbing the old one. 

One of the design features that Damman spoke about was the new city hall’s vestibule. The vestibule, said Damman was specifically designed to display Marysville’s history. Several different historical artifacts are on display, including a full size Wills Sainte Claire automobile. The Wills Sainte Claire was a luxury car that was built in Marysville in the late 1920’s. Residents of Marysville can now expect to be able to handle all business with the city under one roof in a building that is designed to allow for future expansion as well.

Reporting for WGRT, ebw.tv

Flu season is here and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to get vaccinated. The 2018-2019 flu season saw an estimated 647,000 hospitalizations and nearly 61,000 deaths from influenza nationwide. Currently, there are only sporadic reports of the flu in the state of Michigan, but officials warn that could change quickly.  Once a person receives a flu shot, it takes up to two weeks for the body to build up enough immunity to prevent the flu. The flu shot is made with inactivated or killed viruses and cannot give you influenza. 

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health said, “Residents should receive their flu vaccine today to have optimal protection throughout the flu season.” The MDHHS says that everyone six months of age and older should receive a flu vaccine every year. They also say that getting a flu vaccine protects not only you but those around you who may have serious complications if they get the flu. Officials say currently there are ample supplies of supplies of flu vaccine at several locations in Michigan.  The vaccines can be found at doctors offices, pharmacies, and local health departments.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

This Saturday November 2, the St. Clair County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be conducting a hostile event exercise at the Marysville United Methodist Church in Marysville. St. Clair County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director, Justin Westmiller said they “are looking to actively exercise response plans regarding an active threat in a public venue.” In doing so,  the group hopes to accomplish two things with the exercise. First, they want to practice the Active Shooter Hostile Event (ASHE) plan with first responders. A public venue, like the church they are using, will help in that effort, by giving a public venue scenario. Along with the ASHE plan, area hospitals are required to participate annually in a mass trauma situation. 

The community-based exercise ensures area hospitals retain their Hospital Trauma Designation as outlined by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Residents should be aware that there will be an increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel at the Marysville United Methodist Church tomorrow morning beginning at 7 a.m., but that there is no reason to be alarmed. Westmiller said, “St Johns River District, Lake Huron Medical Center, and McLaren Port Huron will also be involved, and Marysville Public Safety will be the Incident Commander for the event.” Normal business at the hospitals are not expected to be interrupted.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

With hunting season gearing up and firearm deer season just around the corner, there’s a local meat market that helps the hungry in our area by processing donated deer. Jimmy Rankin Meats has participated in the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program for the past eight years and will continue to do so this year. Jim Rankin, owner of Jimmy Rankin Meats said his “store processed nearly 1,000 pounds of deer meat last year as part of the program.”  He also said “the processed meat is donated locally to Mid-City Nutrition.” Rankin also spoke highly about DTE employees at the Greenwood Power Plant, saying, “they continue to provide deer for the program. According to Rankin, “last year alone the employees dropped off over 50 deer.” Rankin finished by saying that, “the program has been working really well.” 

Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger was established in 1991. They are an all volunteer non-profit organization that coordinates with participating licensed game processors throughout the state as drop off locations for whitetail deer harvested by hunters during the hunting season.  Jimmy Rankin Meats is the only drop off location for the program in St. Clair County. The group estimates that since the inception of the program, nearly 640,000 pound of venison has been collected providing over 3 million meals.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) recently held their Achievement Honor Roll Awards in Lansing and one local woman was among the individuals that were honored. 

Laura Booth of Marysville received the award from the group for successfully advocating for voice crosswalks in her neighborhood. Booth spent four weeks at the BSBP Training Center to improve her independent living skills and receive mobility training.  As a client of BSBP she became eligible for the award. Laura is an advocate for herself and others and has sought services for herself through the BSBP so that she can live independently as she has a diagnosis that will leave her blind in the years to come. BSBP Director Bill Robinson said, “BSBP’s  programs and services are designed to partner with and provide support to clients so they can achieve a greater quality of life and support themselves independently.” He finished by saying, “Each BSBP client deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond the goals they’ve set for themselves.”

Booth said she was “shocked” to learn she had received the award.  Being nominated by her teacher at the BSBP, she was one of several candidates in the running for the award and was ultimately selected by the BSBP board to receive the honor. Booth said the award itself was created by blind students at the Center for the Blind, and includes braille and raised lettering on the award. The BSBP presents the award annually to individuals who are exemplary in exceeding their goals for personal success.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

Marysville Mayor, Dan Damman attended his last city council meeting as mayor this week. Damman formally announced that he will be running in the 2020 election for Circuit Court Judge in St. Clair County. The Honorable Daniel J. Kelly, who currently holds the seat must retire at the end of 2020 because of the Michigan Constitution’s requirement of mandatory retirement for judges who reach the age of 70. 

At the city council meeting, Damman thanked those who supported him throughout the course of his time serving as a Council Member, and then as Mayor. Voters in Marysville will decide on Tuesday, November 5th who will fill those seats for the council and the Mayor’s office. Those running for the three open council seats are Michael Deising, Kathleen Hayman, Paul Wessel, and Shawn Winston. Wayne Pyden is the only candidate running for Mayor.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley