George James

Changes to Deer Testing Planned for 2020 Hunting Season

Michigan deer hunters will have a few changes to prepare for this year thanks to COVID-19. Staff and funding shortages, along with the decline in the number of hunters have forced the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to reduce the number of deer check stations.

Hunters will be required to “mask up” and follow social distancing guidelines at all check stations. At many stations, they will not be permitted to leave their vehicles.

Acting DNR Wildlife Division Chief Dan Kennedy said, “It is an unprecedented time in our state’s history, with serious challenges that affect everyone. We ask for your patience and grace as we adapt to meet these challenges. Michigan hunters have a long history of partnering with the DNR for the benefit and health of the state’s deer population.”

Despite these service reductions, the DNR still needs help tracking the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease and tuberculosis in the deer population. St. Clair County is not on the list for checking for either disease, but for hunters traveling to other parts of the state, they will want to check out the DNR’s 2020 Hunting Digest for full details. Visit michigan.gov.

 

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Spa 223 Closing While Spa Blu Makes Plans to Open

Port Huron, MI — The spa scene on Huron Avenue in Port Huron is changing. Spa 223 & Boutique, a downtown Port Huron fixture for eleven years and consistent donor to community causes, has announced that it will be closing at the end of September. The brand-new Spa Blu plans to be opening in mid-October.

Spa Blu will be located at 712 Huron Avenue, on the north end of downtown Port Huron. Owner Suzanne McKenzie, who worked at Spa 223, said that her new facility will have a lot of familiar faces for Spa 223 clients and will live up to the same “gold standard”, but will be a completely new spa under new ownership.

McKenzie said that her staff will offer massage, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures. They will eventually offer facials and waxing as well. She said their goal is to provide “an exceptional service in a relaxing atmosphere. When you walk out of Spa Blu, after a service, we want you to feel refreshed and pampered.”

The Blue Water theme will be obvious throughout the new spa, according to McKenzie, and she looks forward to greeting both old and new clients with her new twist on spa treatments.

Spa Blu is planned to open in mid-October.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Climate Change Addressed with MI Healthy Climate Plan

Could Michigan be carbon neutral by 2050? A plan has been introduced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office to create the MI Healthy Climate Plan with carbon neutrality in the next thirty years as the goal. 

In introducing the plan by way of Executive Order 2020-182 and Executive Directive 2020-10, Whitmer said, “The science is clear – climate change is directly impacting our public health, environment, our economy, and our families.” 

The plan does not specify the methods, but tasks the Office of Climate and Energy in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to develop and implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The Governor’s goal is to have state government lead the effort with the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget regulating new state buildings and facilities in accordance with the Healthy Climate Plan.

The plan has been endorsed by leaders from Steelcase, Utility Workers Union of America, the Sierra Club, and the American Lung Association. Those interested in being appointed to the Council for Climate Solutions can go to www.michigan.gov/appoinments and fill out an application by November 1, 2020.  

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

More Bottle and Can Return Options Starting October 5th

Phase 2 of the Michigan bottle and can deposit return program will begin on October 5th. Some retailers have been unable to accept returns if they do not have certain machinery that processes the materials.

The new order from the Michigan Department of Treasury mandates that all “grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations and other retailers with reverse vending machines must reopen their bottle return facilities and resume the collection of returnable bottles and cans to refund outstanding deposits.”

Phase 1 retailers were those that exclusively provided a return area in a separate area of the store.

The Michigan Department of Treasury is allowing retailers that don’t have mechanized bottle counters and rely on employees to count and sort the returns to start accepting cans and bottles at their discretion.

Safety precautions required of retailers include limiting returns to $25 per day per person, establishing special or limited hours of operation for return facilities, limiting the number of available and operating reverse vending machines, periodically closing for cleaning, and implementing any other procedures to maintain safety.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

St. Clair County Qualifies for Extra Help to Combat Hunger and Homelessness 

The United Way of St. Clair County has announced the receipt of a grant to assist agencies in St. Clair County to assist with hunger and homelessness. 

The $9,925 grant is from the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which was started by Congress in 1983. The United Way is one of six charities on the National Board for the program, which also has representation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

United Way of St. Clair County was chosen for the grant based on data gathered state-wide to determine local needs and make responsible funding allocations. The deciding factors in the region include state counts of homeless populations, welfare caseloads, cost of living index, plant closings, and food stamp application levels. 

The funds are to be used to provide aid to homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, and organizations who provide emergency utility and mortgage help. Qualified agencies may apply for funding at uwstclair.org by September 28. 

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

EEE Cases Mounting; More Aerial Mosquito Spraying Underway

The battle against Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or “triple E”, rages on with a hard freeze being the only sure way to kill off the mosquitoes that carry the virus. Aerial insecticide treatments of 226,000 acres began last week, with more treatments scheduled for this week. Infection with EEE has serious neurological symptoms for both humans and animals.

Temperature plays a crucial factor in the treatment plan as the mosquitos don’t fly when it is below 50 degrees, but they don’t die until there is consistent nighttime temperatures below 28 degrees, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The urgency of the mosquito control has been ratcheted up with the first case of human infection of EEE being identified in Barry County. The infections in horses have increased to thirty, and the number of affected counties has increased. An infected deer was found in Allegan County.

Oakland and Genesee Counties are the regions closest to the Blue Water Area that are getting treated. No cases have been reported in St. Clair County. At least one case has been reported in Ontario, but not near the Michigan border.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland