George James

A local woman has been recognized for her contributions to the business community of the Blue Water area and for her personal integrity. Jessica McLarty was named the 2019 Woman of the Year by the Port Huron Chapter of the National Association of Career Women. 

The NACW is a nonprofit organization devoted to the enhancement of women’s personal and professional development. Their mission is to create an enriching environment for career women to share, grow and build professional and personal relationships to enable them to reach their full potential. 

Ms. McLarty was recognized as a “woman whose conduct exemplifies the highest standards, personally and professionally, while remaining active in her career” according to a statement from the organization. They also said she “continually goes out of her way to help and mentor others and demonstrates selfless contributions of kindness, time and energy so that others may succeed.” Ms. McLarty is the Vice President of Commercial Loans at Eastern Michigan Bank and is involved in many community groups. She is also the Vice-President of the National Board of the NACW.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Two new efforts are underway to give hope to families coping with a loved one with opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is an epidemic throughout the nation and unfortunately, the Blue Water Area has not escaped its grip. 

As of yesterday, one effort is the removal of a prior authorization requirement. In the past, those who were ready to try to kick the habit had to wait to get preauthorization for the withdrawal medication if they were Medicaid recipients, and this waiting period could delay recovery. In a statement from the agency, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health for MDHHS, said that “By eliminating this requirement, medical providers will be empowered to help people begin treatment when they are ready and increase their chances of a successful recovery.” 

The other effort is in the naming of the disease. Opioid addicts are from all walks of life, often starting their addiction with legal treatment for injuries or medical procedures. Some people are more prone to developing an addiction than others, and the MDHHS now refers to the addiction as the opioid use disorder. This simple name change is hoped to help reduce the stigma and encourage people to get the help they need to live in recovery. You will be seeing a statewide multimedia campaign intended to raise awareness and reduce stigma for those seeking help throughout early 2020.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Fear not, local homeowners, those leaves will get picked up eventually. Janice Rendflesh of Emterra Environmental USA, spoke to us about the leaf pickup status in the Blue Water Area. Emterra is contracted with Port Huron, Marine City, and Marysville for trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup. She said that the local Operations Team with Emterra is working hard to get to all the leaves. 

They do three passes through the city and they are currently on their third pass. She assured us that they are working hard to get it done and they won’t stop until all the streets are covered. Ms. Rendflesh said the timing of the pickup is dependent upon weather conditions and if you know Michigan, this year has not been ideal. 

As to where all those leaves go, she said Emterra sends them to a composting facility. Compost facilities in Michigan are licensed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Sometimes the leaves and clippings are mixed with other compostable materials and turned into compost that is used in local agriculture. If your leaves are not picked up during this last pass of the season, make sure to call your local municipality to let them know.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Marysville Police Officer Reeves and his K-9 partner, Heiko, can’t seem to stay out of the news. The two spent the fall raising awareness for a contest for a new K-9 vehicle. Although they did not win the contest, they still took second place and received a Chevy Tahoe from an anonymous donor. Now, Heiko is in the news for possibly saving the life of a lost hunter. 

With the threat of an ice storm and freezing temperatures looming Saturday night, there was no time to lose when a call came in from a hunter lost in the 6700-acre Port Huron State Game area. A rescue effort was organized with the St. Clair County Sherriff’s Department, Clyde Township Fire Department,  and the Kenockee Twp. Fire Department, and Heiko was called in to assist. It was reported that the four-year-old German Shepherd put his nose to work and found the lost hunter in the woods in Clyde Township. In the cold and dark, Heiko sniffed out the hunter in less than an hour, according to reports, and led the rescuers to him. 

Dogs have about 225 million scent receptors in their noses compared to a human’s mere five million. So Heiko clearly had the advantage when looking for that cold, lonely hunter. Heiko’s training has paid off and he is proving himself to be a great asset for the Marysville Police Department.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Today is a big day for supporters of the new skate park in Port Huron. Donations will be matched by an anonymous donor for today only, hopefully giving a big push toward the $250,000 goal.  Donations are being matched until December 31 by both the Tony Hawk Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. So, donors will essentially have their donation quadrupled today. 

To take advantage of this trifecta of matching gift generosity, donors can make their checks payable to the City of Port Huron and be sure to date it December 3rd and write Optimist SkatePark in the memo line. Making a donation through the GoFundMe account also qualifies for the match. 

The Port Huron Recreation Department is cooperating with local skating and skateboard enthusiasts to plan an improved skate park in Optimist Park, off of 10th street on the north side of the city. The park also has a new accessible and modernized playground that was installed last year. 

John Eppley, of Alpine Cycles, and an organizer of the skate park effort, told us they are inching closer to their goal and need at least another $60,000 to get there. Additional money will help with things like drinking fountains, picnic tables, and flowers to complement the park, which is both a neighborhood park and a destination for families and skaters.

You can donate on the GoFund Me page <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski

Local residents with multiple vehicles and small driveways will need to get creative with parking their cars from now until spring. Both Port Huron and Marysville have snow ordinances in effect from December through April. Residents need to keep their vehicles off the streets overnight to make room for snow plows. The rule is in effect even if the skies are clear and there is no snow.

Captain Marcy Kuehn of the Port Huron Police Department reminds us that vehicles are to be off the street between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Drivers will get a warning from now until December 5, but after that a $20 ticket will unfortunately be waiting for you in the morning. The ordinance applies to paved streets within the city limits. Marysville has a similar ordinance that starts at 2:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 a.m. 

In the event of a snow storm, it’s a good idea to keep your car off the street whenever snow is falling to make room for snow plows. Snow isn’t in the forecast for a while, but if you live in the Blue Water Area, you know to be prepared for anything.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski