George James

DNR: Don’t Trim Oak Trees until Mid-July

With Spring in the air, it might seem like the perfect time to clean up the trees in your yard. But hold off on trimming oak trees.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says that oak trees shouldn’t be trimmed between April 15th and July 15th because of the risk of spreading “oak wilt”.

Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease that is a microscopic killer of oak trees. The fungus is spread by flying beetles. The disease is especially deadly for red oak trees and can kill them within weeks. It can also weaken white oak trees.

James Wieferich, forest health specialist in the DNR’s Forest Resources Division, said, “The guidelines against pruning oak trees during this time can help prevent the spread of the disease.”

Freshly cut firewood can also spread the disease.

Trees will show symptoms of oak wilt by wilting from the top down and rapidly dropping leaves. The disease usually shows up from late June to September.

The DNR warns that if you have a tree that gets damaged during the risk period from April 15 to July 15, immediately cover all wounds with tree-wound paint or latex-based paint.

Oak wilt outbreaks should be reported to the DNR.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

I-69/M-19 Road Work Begins

Orange barrels are out as a big road construction project in St. Clair County gets underway. The Michigan Department of Transportation is putting major investment into fixing the pavement on both I-69 and M-19 near the village of Emmett.  

The pavement on I-69 and M-19 has been deteriorating and in need of repair. The state is putting $38 million into the project, which is expected to last until November of 2022.

The roadwork will stretch from Miller Road to I-69, covering six miles, and will also take care of the slice of M-19 from I-69 to Burt Road.

MDOT says there will be single-lane closures and traffic shifts. The ramp at Riley Center Road will be affected intermittently throughout the project and M-19 traffic will be maintained with a temporary signal.

The work is being done to address the impact on commerce, tourism, and commuter traffic on the heavily traveled roads. I-69 is part of the International Trade Corridor.

The road work is part of the Rebuilding Michigan program which uses bond sales to finance the statewide infrastructure initiative.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission Addresses Alarming Suicide Rate

Michigan has a lot of problems right now, and one of them is an average of four lives lost each day to suicide. The Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission has made it a priority to address this heart-breaking problem.

The rate of people dying from self-harm has increased steadily over the past decade. The Commission is working to minimize risk by promoting safe environments, resiliency, and connectedness. They are also working to expand access to care for at-risk people, improve prevention and training, and implement best practices in suicide prevention for health care systems. There is also an initiative to enhance data collection specifically pertaining to suicide.

MDHHS Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said, “Suicide is preventable, and Michigan’s current suicide rates are unacceptable. However, through our plans and intentional actions, we can provide the help and resources necessary to save lives. Together, we can make Michigan a model state for suicide prevention, and a place where everyone gets the help they need, when they need it.”

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/coronavirus/Suicide_Prevention_Commission_Initial_Report_Final_Draft_719896_7.pdf

Anyone who needs help can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-273-TALK. Press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. Anyone under age 21 can ask to talk to a peer at Teen Link, 1-866-833-6546.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

State School Board Makes Attendance Exceptions for Standardized Tests

With more plot twists than a daytime soap opera, the question of whether state testing in public schools will take place has finally been settled. Kind of.

Schools still have to offer the tests, which usually take place around this time of the year, but, according to a statement adopted by the Michigan State Board of Education, parents can choose to have their kids sit this year out if they would just be coming to the school for the test.

The statement says that the Board supports the right of parents and guardians to make decisions about the education of their children. The statement notes that the testing waiver was not granted by the United States Department of Education, but there is no penalty if not everyone takes the test.

The statement ends with, “Given that coronavirus infection rates are increasing in Michigan, and many students are still attending school remotely, the State Board of Education supports the guidance to parents and legal guardians that these students need not be brought into school solely for the purpose of state assessment, and will not be required to come into school for the sole purpose of taking the assessments.”

How individual school districts decide to administer the tests and how they will use the data is being worked out, but for now, the pressure is off individual students to be physically present for the testing.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Highway Trash Cleanup Starts Saturday

Good news! Highway litter is about to get cleaned up. If it seems like there is more litter along the highways, there’s a reason. Not all of the pickups were able to be completed last year and the trash piled up in some areas.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is starting “Adopt-a-Highway” pickup on April 17th for the southern half of the lower peninsula. The pickup goes until April 25th.

Volunteers work with an organization that adopts a stretch of road to clean up. MDOT then picks up the bags of trash and takes them to the dump.

Motorists are asked to stay on the lookout for the volunteers who should be wearing high-visibility safety vests, provided by MDOT. Use caution when driving near the volunteers.

Typically, 2,900 groups volunteer to clean up 6,000 miles of highway in Michigan, filling up nearly 70,000 bags. Last year, only 20,000 bags were filled. There are pickups in July and late September also.

MDOT has been organizing the “Adopt-a-Highway” Program since 1990, with an estimated cost savings of $5 million annually by using volunteer labor. There are still stretches of road that need adoption. Groups are asked to commit to their zone for two years. 

For more information on Adopting a Highway:

www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Record Expungement Process Explained on New Webpage

The saying goes, “You commit the crime; you do the time.” But what about when the time has been served and having a record prevents employment and otherwise getting on with life? Or when the crime is no longer a crime under new laws? There’s a webpage for that.

The new webpage, created by Michigan’s Department of Attorney General, lays out the criteria for expungement. While cleared records are not automatic, there is a process for making it happen. The webpage explains the new law, clarifies eligibility, and provides checklists to make sure all the steps are filled for completing the expungement process.

A new law went into effect on April 11th specifically addressing misdemeanors and local ordinance marijuana crimes. A person convicted of such crimes can petition for expungement if the convictions were based on activity that would not have been illegal after December 6th, 2018, when recreational marijuana use was legalized.

There is also an email address dedicated to questions about the process. A link to the email address and the expungement webpage can be found at:

https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-82917_104464_104524—,00.html

For questions, use this email address: ag-expungements@michigan.gov

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland