George James

Friends of the St. Clair River Wins EGLE Water Monitoring Grant

When is the last time you thought about macroinvertebrates? They are actually pretty important, as they are monitored to determine the health of rivers and streams. The Friends of the St. Clair River organization has received a $2000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to continue their work in monitoring the health of our vitally important waterways.

Sheri Faust, President of Friends of the St. Clair River, said, “This grant revitalizes our Stream Leaders program from 2008 with the St. Clair County Health Department. It’s exciting to receive funding since this is the first opportunity that became available in the MiCorp Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program after a long funding hiatus.”

The grants went to organizations that were just starting out with stream monitoring as well as veteran stream monitoring agencies like Friends of the St. Clair River, who received a maintenance grant to help them continue monitoring the health of the river.

Faust said that they will be adding five new testing sites to the existing 12 sites. She said the grant will help train volunteers, provide education, and guide management actions to keep our rivers healthy.

The grants are funded by water protection fundraising license plates.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Sentinel Project is Launched to Monitor Nursing Home Care

The “Silver Tsunami” is coming. The moniker refers to the aging Baby Boomer population that will contribute to an estimated 70% increase in the number of people needing care in nursing homes. A new effort is underway to make sure the elderly are not taken advantage of or being abused or neglected while in long-term care facilities.

The Sentinel Project has been launched in the Health Care Fraud Division of the Office of Michigan’s Attorney General. Its goal is to make surprise visits to facilities suspected of abuse or neglect through metrics, complaints, and other data.

The Sentinel Project is a law enforcement effort that will collaborate with the nursing home industry and regulatory agencies. It is being rolled out now in preparation for the inevitable rapid increase in the need for more long-term nursing care. By the year 2060, there will be over 94 million senior citizens in the United States, according to projections.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “We are dedicated to detecting and addressing any neglect or abuse of loved ones residing in long-term care facilities. Instances of substandard care must be eliminated, and The Sentinel Project will help accomplish that goal.”   

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

$100K Gift to Help Equity and Inclusion Committee

As the saying goes, people put their time and their money into that which is important to them. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is putting both human resources and substantial funds, $100,000 to be exact, into supporting the Equity and Inclusion Committee.

According to an announcement from the Foundation, the major gift is intended to bolster efforts at advancing philanthropy in communities of color throughout the region. 

Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair Shawn Shackleford said, “The Equity and Inclusion effort is the result of dedication and hard work of many in this community. This gift from the Foundation is validation of that work. It will allow the Equity and Inclusion Committee to continue to support minority-related issues and opportunities.”   

During the start of the pandemic, the Committee hired experts to guide businesses through the process to get financial help. They also facilitated partnerships with the Economic Development Alliance and the Blue Water Chamber of Commerce to support long-term success.

The Committee has recently supported community organizations like SONS, the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial, and Blue Water Indigenous Alliance.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Senate Bills Gives County Prosecutors Money to Investigate Nursing Home COVID Deaths

State Senator Dan Lauwers, a Brockway Township Republican who represents the 25th District, has announced that the Senate has appropriated $250,000 for county prosecutors to pursue investigations into the use of nursing homes to care for COVID-19 patients.

Nursing homes saw some of the highest rates of infection and death at the onset of the pandemic. The policy of moving convalescing COVID-19 patients into nursing homes has been a point of contention between Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and the Republican State Legislature for the past year.

In his Legistative Update, Lauwers said, “The families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic deserve to have closure. The governor’s failed policies are responsible for forcing our most vulnerable residents into living spaces with seniors who have tested positive for COVID-19. Our seniors now account for at least one-third of our state’s COVID-19 deaths.”

Senate Bill 27, introduced by Senator Jim Stamas of the 36th District, is an appropriations bill that will now move on to the House.

The Governor’s Office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have consistently maintained that proper protocols were followed.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

PHPD Offers Elementary Summer Camp

Port Huron, MI — It’s never too early to learn about community service. Kids who are interested in learning more about how police departments work or what it’s like to be a police officer have a great opportunity this summer. The Port Huron Police Department is offering an Elementary Summer Camp for kids in grades 4th through 6th.

The Camp will be held from June 21st through June 24th at four different locations: Cleveland Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, and Holland Woods Middle School. There is transportation available if needed.

Camp participants will learn from School Resource Officers Dennis Huisman and Laura Phillips who will cover a variety of subjects with the children.

Campers will explore police equipment and vehicles, complete a police obstacle course, and design and race their very own police car. They will also learn about fingerprints and meet the Port Huron Police Department K9 unit.

Lunches are provided by the Port Huron School District and students get a t-shirt and pinewood derby car to take home. There is no cost to attend the camp and enrollment is limited.

Registration details can be found at:

https://www.porthuron.org/Police/2021_SummerCamp.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Jail Reform Council Looks to Reform Criminal Justice System

The Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council has been created by Executive Order of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. County jails are housing an increasing number of inmates costing taxpayers nearly half a billion dollars each year.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist said, “This council will do critical work to implement the recommendations of last year’s Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration that I was proud to co-chair. Together, we can make substantive, lasting changes to our justice system that make us all safer and help us live up to our highest ideals.”

The new council is Chaired by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and is made up of members of the law enforcement community, mental health care, and county government.

McCormack said, “Thanks to the data-driven, bipartisan work of the Jail and Pretrial Incarceration Task Force, Michigan is a national leader in reforming our criminal justice system to be more fair, effective, transparent, and accountable. The council will support the implementation of these pioneering improvements, making sure the vision of a justice system that makes us all safer and stronger that inspired us becomes reality.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland