George James

St. Clair County officials have activated the Emergency Operations Center as thousands of local families face uncertainty surrounding federal food assistance benefits.

More than twenty two thousand residents in St. Clair County rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. With federal benefits currently disrupted local agencies are working together to make sure people have access to food and support.

Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance, says the activation follows days of planning with dozens of community partners through the St. Clair County Community Services Coordinating Body. The team is coordinating food resources, volunteer support, and public communication to help families during this period of uncertainty.

Residents in need can find an updated list of local food pantries, soup kitchens, blessing boxes, and pop up distribution sites online at cscbinfo.org/food distribution.

The Economic Development Alliance is encouraging local employers to share this information with employees and help connect anyone in need to available community resources.

St. Clair County families still have a chance to enroll their four-year-olds in free preschool for the ’25-’26 school year through Michigan’s PreK for All program. Limited openings remain in the Great Start Readiness Program at sites across the county, including Capac, Memphis, and Port Huron. State-certified teachers lead classrooms that focus on early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills, giving children a strong start before kindergarten. Some locations also offer before- and after-school care and transportation. Families can apply now online to secure a spot for their child. https://bit.ly/3WzL12D

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Port Huron woman accused of killing a man outside a local gas station will have to wait until December for her next court hearing. Thirty-six-year-old Amber Oile is charged with open murder in the shooting death of 30-year-old Reginald Franklin of Detroit. Police say Oile followed Franklin to the gas station, confronted him, and shot him multiple times. Her new defense attorney, John Freeman, requested a delay to review the case details. The judge agreed, setting the next hearing for December 2. Oile remains jailed without bond.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron made history Saturday by defeating longtime rival Marysville 24-14 in the first-ever postseason matchup between the schools. The Red Hawks jumped to a 17-0 lead behind senior QB Joey Gilbert’s three rushing touchdowns and a big 38-yard pass to Dirvante Reid. Marysville fought back with two touchdowns from Cole and Ty Busen, but a late interception by Port Huron’s Deekyn Baldwin sealed the win. The victory gives Port Huron a 7-3 record and their first playoff win since ’20, advancing them to face Warren De La Salle Collegiate on Friday night.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Sarnia’s IMPACT police team is keeping busy, but fewer people are taking up help this year. The team has made 124 referrals to community services, down from 214 last year, with only 57 accepted and 25 shelter placements taken. Street-level contacts remain steady, with over 1,600 encounters with people experiencing homelessness and 1,400 involving addiction. Police say homelessness hasn’t dropped but has spread across about 10 smaller, scattered encampments around the city, compared to one large site last year. The three-officer unit continues patrols even as successful outcomes dip.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Volunteers in Michigan are gearing up for Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week from November 17th to the 24th. Local drop-off sites will welcome shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children facing poverty, war, and disease. Since ’93, the program has delivered over 232 million boxes worldwide. Families and groups can pack a box, donate $10 online to track its journey, and help share hope and the message of Jesus with kids around the globe. Drop-off locations and hours are searchable online by city or ZIP code.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet