George James

CDC Makes Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

So, you got the COVID-19 vaccine. Can you make up for all the missed gatherings of the past year and kick your social calendar into high gear? Will you be able to see people’s smiles mask-free and give hugs? Yes, but not immediately, and not with everyone, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after a one-dose vaccine. Until those two weeks have passed, even those who received the vaccination are asked to maintain vigilant social distancing and mask-wearing.

The CDC says that fully vaccinated people can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing. They also say that it is safe to visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.

Fully vaccinated people can also refrain from quarantining and testing following exposure if asymptomatic.

The CDC acknowledges that they are still learning how the virus is transmitted and that recommendations are subject to change as more people get vaccinated and knowledge of the virus progresses.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

New Ad Campaign Launched to Help Smokers Quit the Habit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are launching a new round of television, streaming, and online commercials from the “Tips From Former Smokers” campaign. The campaign is in its tenth year and is estimated to have helped over one million American adults to quit smoking.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldoun of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services said, “CDC’s Tips campaign is effective in bringing to life the harmful effects of smoking and connecting people with resources to help them quit.”  

Khaldoun went on to say that as a physician, she has seen the adverse effects of smoking on health, saying, “MDHHS is committed to helping Michigan residents understand the reality of smoking-related disease and death – and to prevent these realities from happening to them.”

Diseases related to smoking claimed the lives of 16,200 Michiganders last year. The Tips from Former Smokers campaign is thought to have prevented 129,000 early deaths and saved $7.3 billion in smoking-related healthcare costs.

The new round of ads will feature the stories of caregivers of those who are suffering from a smoking-related disease and will run through September of this year.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Statewide Tornado Drill Wednesday at 1 p.m.

A statewide tornado drill will be held on Wednesday, March 24th at 1:00 p.m. This is Severe Weather Awareness Week and it’s time to prepare for spring and summer severe weather.

The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is asking residents to be prepared for tornado season. The questions for disaster readiness are: Do you have a plan? Where will you go? What will you do? Do you know the alert systems in your area? How will you communicate?

Tornado season generally runs from April to July, with most tornadoes occurring between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.  Michigan’s “tornado alley” is from Grand Rapids to Flint, but the Blue Water Area has had some strong tornadoes on record.

A Tornado Watch means that conditions are conducive to the development of a tornado. A Tornado Warning means that a tornado had actually been spotted. When a tornado is threatening, the safest place in a home is a basement or the central area of the home in a small room or under sturdy furniture. Mobile home residents should evacuate and find a stronger structure.

Tornado information: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp-tornado_tips_8781_7.pdf.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Northern AD Jason Kasparian Named Regional Athletic Director of the Year

Port Huron, MI — Jason Kasparian, the Athletic Director at Port Huron Northern High School, was selected as the 2021 Regional Athletic Director of the Year by the Michigan Interscholastic Administrators Association (MIAAA).

Mr. Kasparian is in his 11th year as both Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Port Huron Northern High School. His leadership roster includes Macomb Area Conference President for the 2018 season, and current chair for the Sportsmanship and Technology Committees with MIAAA, along with several committees for the Michigan High School Athletics Association. He has also coached soccer, little league, and basketball at various levels and is considered the champion of the effort to raise $141,000 to replace the gym floor at Port Huron Northern.

John Hartley, a fellow AD in the region said, “Jason Kasparian is a loving and caring husband and father, a ‘do the right thing’ type of person, and someone I am honored to call a great friend and colleague. I feel I speak for the Macomb Area Conference when I say I am proud to have Jason Kasparian represent us by being named MIAAA Region 10 AD of the Year.”

Port Huron Northern High School Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Brian Jamison echoed Hartley’s remarks, saying Kasparian’s “personality, work ethic, and character put him in a special class of people.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lauwers Advocates for Keeping Line 5 Open Until Safer Line is Built

Michigan State Senator Dan Lauwers reported on the testimony to a joint hearing of the Senate’s Energy and Technology Committee and Natural Resources Committee regarding the Enbridge Line 5 shutdown. 

Line 5 is a petroleum pipeline that extends from western Canada to Eastern Canada. It passes under the Straits of Mackinac and the St. Clair River. A leak from the line would be environmentally catastrophic. A new line under the Straits is in the preliminary planning stages. A new line has already been constructed under the St Clair River. 

A member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament, Bob Bailey of Sarnia, spoke at the meeting. Lauwers said his testimony and others’ brought important perspective. Closing the line will have significant negative economic impacts on the Sarnia region.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer plans to completely close the line in May and rely on rail and trucking to transport the petroleum. Lauwers said that Whitmer does not have the authority to do so, as that would be breaking an international treaty. 

In his weekly newsletter, Lauwers said, “If safety and environmental protection are what we are after, we need to weigh these matters objectively instead of subjectively. I think we will find continuation of what we have now while we build an alternative to Line 5 is far better and safer than other considerations.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

St. Clair County Animal Control Looking for Donations to Help with Rescued Animals

The St. Clair County Animal Control needs help from the public as they deal with an influx of recovered animals from two suspected animal hoarding cases in the past two weeks.

Concerned residents are asked to donate Clorox bleach, Dawn dish soap, cat litter, and towels.  They can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Animal Control office at 3378 Griswold Road.

The most recent case involved suspected cat hoarding at a home in Burtchville Township. Sixteen cats were taken from a residence by animal control after thirty-one cats had already been removed by private citizens. A recent seizure in Port Huron rescued nineteen cats and three dogs.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America describes animal hoarding as “the compulsive need to collect and own animals for the sake of caring for them that results in accidental or unintentional neglect or abuse”.

In both cases, the animals were discovered after citizen complaints that resulted in search warrants being issued. Upon searching the properties, officers found unsafe conditions for the animals and seized them for rehabilitation. The animals will need a few weeks to get healthy and will then be ready for rehoming.

Animal Control is also asking for financial donations to offset medical costs for the animals.

Financial donations can be made at paypal.me/sccanimals.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland