George James

Sarnia Police and Fire Address Enforcing COVID Restrictions

Ontario’s strict lock-down continues in response to stress on hospitals from an influx of patients sick with COVID-19. The City of Sarnia has addressed how they will be enforcing the new restrictions within the city. 

The Sarnia Police Service said they will focus on educating and warning the public about the Provincial Government’s restrictions and will resort to enforcement when other measures have failed and if violations under the Re-Opening Act of Ontario and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act persist. 

The Police will not be randomly stopping pedestrians or vehicles to enforce the travel restrictions but will enforce based on observed violations or public complaints. The Police addressed this concern out of recognition of residents’ frustration with the virus and the measures taken by the Provincial Government. 

The Sarnia Fire Service reported that there is no ban on backyard recreational burning, but campfires can be burned only while following the guidelines on acceptable numbers of people and number of households. 

Ontario has imposed a ban on travel for reasons other than health care, essential shopping, and work that can not be done from home, as well as most travel between provinces. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Republicans: Biden Tax Plan Could Doom Family Farms

Local legislators are rallying against the Biden tax plan that they say could be the end of family farms.

The Biden administration’s proposed tax hikes, and particularly changes in the death tax and capital gains taxes, have the potential to put local farms out of business.

State Senator Dan Lauwers, himself a family farmer, said, “This is the kind of policy that eliminates family farms. Families can’t afford to tie up that kind of money. It’s going to be corporations that run farms as a business, not as a family.”

Referring to the changes proposed to the capital gains tax, Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski said, “With the loss of that stepped-up basis, the next generation may be forced to sell off large portions of the vital farm assets just to pay that capital gains tax. As a result, economic viability of our farms would be severely impacted, in fact, we may see farms discontinue and go out of business.”

Congresswoman Lisa McLain, a Republican from Michigan’s 10th District, authored a letter to President Biden explaining the need to rethink the policy proposals. A link to the letter:

https://mcclain.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/mcclain.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Ag%20letter.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Rec Programs are Back for Summer

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Parks and Recreation Department has announced sign-up dates for summer programs. Real, in-person programming is back with plans for the pools to be open and the parks to be full of happy children.

Residents of the city of Port Huron get first dibs on the summertime fun with their registration starting May 3rd. Those who live outside of the city can start registering on May 4th. In-city rates are extended to those who live in Burtchville, Clyde, Fort Gratiot, and Port Huron townships, due to a cooperative partnership.

COVID-prevention protocols will be followed as needed, including limiting group sizes, social distancing, and mask-wearing when warranted. Many of the traditional programs, like the Camp Palmer day camp and chess club are back on the calendar, but the popular Junior Recreators program is taking another year off.

Highlights of the summer activities include Hollywood actress and Port Huron native McKale Jude Bingham directing a Theatre Workshop, as well as classes held in collaboration with the Friends of The St. Clair River and The Athletic Factory.  

A link to the Summer Brochure from Port Huron Parks and Recreation:

https://d721f890-20f6-4799-98ef-6e373ba52f19.filesusr.com/ugd/fc6623_4995733de6e3406da6cf1d4e51b56416.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Family Emergency” Scams on the Rise

The Michigan Attorney General Office is alerting Michiganders of the latest telephone scam that exploits the love and concern that parents and grandparents have for their kids. The “Family Emergency” scam is making the rounds.

There have been increasing reports of residents being targeted by sophisticated scammers who demand ransom for kidnapped children and by scammers who target grandparents by pretending to be a grandchild in trouble.

Thankfully, there is no actual kidnapping or emergency, but people often fall for such scams out of fear that the claims are real. The criminals often use the correct names of the children to display credibility and prey upon parental fears.

There is a recent report of grandparents being tricked into paying $33,000 to scammers thinking they were talking to their grandson who claimed he was in trouble in Canada and needed money wired immediately.

The Attorney General warns that if you do receive a “Family Emergency” type of call, you should immediately contact the relative to verify their true situation, and of course never send money or give out financial information unless you are 100% sure you know who you are talking to.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

McMorran Boulevard Being Rebuilt

Port Huron, MI — Improvements to a vital downtown street will cause some traffic adjustments for a few months. Road construction on McMorran Boulevard in Downtown Port Huron will bring some temporary changes to parking and traffic patterns for visitors to the Main Branch of the St. Clair County Library, along with the county courthouse and other businesses and offices between Merchant Street and Huron Avenue.

A temporary aggregate surface will be placed across the median on Fort Street to enable access and on-street parking north of McMorran Boulevard. On-street parking south of McMorran Boulevard will be prohibited.

The work is being contracted by the City of Port Huron to Raymond Excavating. The project includes the installation of new water mains and fire hydrants, new catch basins, and new sanitary sewers. It also includes new curbs and gutters with the street reconstruction. Repairs will be made to any sidewalks or drives that are disturbed, as well as any site restoration.

The traffic light at Michigan Street and McMorran Boulevard will be removed during the project. The construction is expected to be completed by July 20th, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Beeler Angry Over Whitmer Veto of Broadband Internet Bill

The Michigan State Legislature is working to increase broadband internet service. The bill was vetoed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Local State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican, and fellow Republicans are not happy with the veto.

House bill 4210 amends the tax act to make exempt certain broadband equipment that delivers internet service to rural and other underserved areas. 

Whitmer vetoed it saying it was not good enough. She responded to the bill, saying, “If Michiganders are going to spend their hard-earned tax dollars to incentivize broadband development, it better be fast.”

Beeler got personal when expressing his frustration with the veto saying, “This veto is just one more bad decision that can be chalked up to Governor Whitmer’s failed, hypocritical leadership.” Beeler went on to say that Whitmer was making “the perfect the enemy of the good”. 

Beeler said, “Governor Whitmer may have no issues appearing on cable news directly from her Lansing living room, but far too many residents in other parts of the state are struggling to function during the pandemic without a dependable internet connection.”

The bill has been re-referred to the Committee on Communications and Technology. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland