George James

Welcome Surprise: Wild Rice Seems to Deter Phragmites on Harsens Island

Wild rice seems to be keeping invasive phragmites at bay near Harsens Island in Clay Township. Representatives of the Thumb Land Conservancy (TLC) and the Blue Water Indigenous Alliance explored the region recently and found several acres of wild rice along the Middle Channel.

Phragmites are tall, prolific weeds that are wreaking havoc on waterways around the state. They grow in dense patches and drown out native species. According to a press release from the Thumb Land Conservancy, the wild rice crop is expanding on the island and there is little or no invasive species where the rice is growing. The rising lake level seems to be helping, as the wild rice tolerates the deeper water better than the phragmites.

TLC reported that, “For now, there are some good things happening ecologically along the shores of the Saint Clair River delta and this may be part of a long-term pattern for survival of native marsh vegetation like wild-rice.”

Landowners in the area are encouraged to gather and scatter the wild rice seeds along the waters’ edge in an effort to stave off the invasion of phragmites.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

CDC Grant to Address Suicide Crisis in Adult Men

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has received a grant to address suicide in adult men in the state. There is a public health crisis going on, with more than 6,700 men losing their lives to suicide in Michigan between 2014 and 2018. The COVID-19 fallout has amplified the tragedy. 

Currently, two-thirds of suicides are adult men. The $4.35 million grant from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention will fund the Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men program. The program is targeted at helping men over 25 with prevention efforts within communities and healthcare. 

Dr. Deb Houry, director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, said, “Suicide is caused by multiple factors and prevention must go beyond individual behavior change. Support and coordination are needed from every sector of society that can directly promote resilience and reduce risk factors such as isolation, stress, substance use, and relationship, financial and job issues.”

Emotional-support services are available at Michigan.gov/StayWell or by calling 888-535-6136 and pressing “8” to talk to a counselor 24/7.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Thumb Land Conservancy to Name and Dedicate Nature Preserves

The Thumb Land Conservancy is naming and dedicating an exciting new addition to outdoor recreation in the Blue Water Area. A stretch of natural areas from Burtchville to Marysville will be officially brought into the portfolio this weekend. The land is part of a major investment from multiple community donors to allow nature enthusiasts to experience a lakeshore coastal forest.

A public naming ceremony is being held in partnership with the Blue Water Indigenous Alliance. Names for each of the preserves, using languages that are native to First Nations people will be implemented.

The naming ceremony is at 1:00 on Saturday, October 3rd at 8759 Lakeshore Road, a ½ mile north of Jeddo Road. The area is called Ode Zibi. After the naming ceremony, the Bidwell Sanctuary will be dedicated. It is located at 3540 Metcalf Road. The group will then head to Dead End Woods Sanctuary in Fort Gratiot, located on Wilson Drive. The final leg of the dedication journey will be at Loznak Sanctuary in Marysville located on Wills Street, about 1/3 mile north of Busha Highway.

The public is invited and asked to RSVP. More information is at thumbland.org.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Court Rules Against CARES Money for Private Schools

Private schools that were counting on assistance from the CARES Act will need to make alternative plans, as the U.S. Department of Education is not appealing the ruling that shut down the funding.

Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, along with other Democratic Attorneys General nationwide, went after Republican Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, accusing her of diverting $16 million away from public schools in Michigan.

DeVos said the Department of Education will “respect the rule of law and will enforce the law as the courts have opined. The Department will not appeal these rulings.”  

Quick to share DeVos’ concession of defeat, Nessel recounted the ruling from Judge James Donato of the U.S. District Court Northern District of California. The fight was over the interpretation of the wording of the CARES Act, which DeVos referred to as ambiguous, and not prohibitive of sharing with private schools. Nessel’s argument was that the wording was clear and that the money was intended for the public schools that needed it the most. Donato ruled that the wording was indeed very clear. 

The full CARES Act allocation for K-12 schools nationwide is $13.2 billion, according to FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Futures for Frontliners Program Logs 60,000 Applicants in Two Weeks

The Futures for Frontliners program, which has the goal of providing tuition-free college and technical training for essential workers, has reached 60,000 applicants in its first two weeks.

Jeff Donofrio, Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said, “Good paying jobs and a stronger Michigan economy require more of us to have an education beyond high school. The strong interest in Futures for Frontliners shows us that Michiganders are ready to build a brighter, more secure future for themselves and their loved ones. With the economic uncertainty that comes with the COVID-19 pandemic and the thousands of high-skilled jobs going unfilled, there’s no better time to add new skills.” 

The state’s goal is to have 60% of the state’s workforce gain an industry recognized certificate or college degree by 2030. Virtual Town Hall sessions are scheduled to answer questions about Futures for Frontliners and explain how essential workers can take advantage of the program. The Southeast Michigan session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13th from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. More information can be found at michigan.gov/Frontliners.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Manufacturing Week Highlights High Skill, High Paying Jobs

It’s Manufacturing Week in Michigan. From September 28th to October 2nd this year, the impact of manufacturing on the state economy is recognized.

It is estimated that manufacturing produces $98.64 billion annually while providing 626,000 jobs from 11,368 manufacturing firms. The Blue Water Area is home to many manufacturing firms, including Tier I automotive suppliers, and advanced manufacturing that supports everything from the medical field to aeronautics. It also supports extensive energy generation and distribution, along with a strong mobility and logistics sector that is uniquely positioned on the I-69 NAFTA international corridor.

For local residents looking for careers in manufacturing, they can explore high-tech, high-skilled, and well-paying careers at going-pro.com. There is financial assistance for job training with the Futures for Frontliners program.

Michigan leads the nation in creating manufacturing jobs, which have increased 42.8% in the last eleven years.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland