George James

Nomination Period Open to Recognize Outstanding School Support Staff

If you know of a school support staff member who has gone above and beyond in their job, you have a chance to nominate that person for the Michigan Education Support Staff Professional of the Year Award and the national Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award

The Award is intended for school support staff who work as paraprofessionals, in clerical services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, technical services, and in the skilled trades.

State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said, “School support staff greatly contribute to the success of our students and schools – ensuring students arrive at school safely; that they are fed; that their schools are clean; and that they have assistance in classrooms. It is important to recognize our education support staff professionals and value their contributions to student success.”  

Parents and students as well as public and private entities can nominate support staff from now until September 25, 2020. Nomination forms can be found at Michigan.gov.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

OT Operation Transformation

Operation Transformation Planning a Fundraising Open House

Port Huron, MI — Operation Transformation will be having an Open House as their annual fundraiser this year. Instead of a banquet, the Open House will give patrons a chance to show their support while practicing social distancing.

The Open House will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from September 28th to October 1st at the Operation Transformation building at 1904 Poplar Street.

Operation Transformation brings together churches and volunteers to meet the needs of the community through various networking and direct service ventures. They have been around since the year 2000.

Guests are invited to drop in to the Open House to watch a video about the work that OT does as well as bid on silent auction items and get a snack. Donations will be gladly accepted and the first $500 each day will be doubled. The Open House needs to raise 50% of the yearly budget.

This year’s video highlighting the work of OT will be available to watch on optrans.org. There will also be live and silent auctions. Details can be found on Operation Transformation’s website and facebook page.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

EPA Grant to Pay for School Water Testing

The State of Michigan has received a $1.9 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to test for lead in school drinking water.

While public drinking fountains are generally turned off during the pandemic, they will be turned on again at some point, and the state is working to ensure that the water will be totally safe.

The grant is part of the nearly $70 million EPA Voluntary Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care program. The funding is being prioritized to go toward schools in areas where children’s blood levels have tested higher, where schools can’t afford their own testing, and where communities have questioned the safety of the water.

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Clean Water Public Advocate Ninah Sasy said, “Seeking opportunities to collaborate with state agencies and federal partners supports our mission of providing cleaner drinking water to all Michiganders. This governmental collaboration combined with our public outreach and Clean Water Ambassador program creates an environment where we can quickly get funding and resources to the communities most in need.”

Residents can sign up to be a “Clean Water Ambassador” at michigan.gov/cleanwater.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Main Street Ensemble Grand Opening September 14th

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron’s newest clothing store, Main Street Ensemble, is having their Grand Opening on Monday, September 14th.

The store will offer upscale vintage and thrifted clothing. A representative of the store said, “Our goal is to share our love of fashion with Port Huron, while helping spread sustainable habits by encouraging people to buy their clothing second hand instead of new. Overall, we want to be a hub where people can come hang out, feel safe, and find some cool clothes to wear.”

Main Street Ensemble is located at 207 Huron Avenue in the block where several other clothing stores, like Polka Dot Pandas, Spa 223, MiPassion, and Patrick & James Menswear are located. The space with restored hardwood and original brick keeps with the vintage vibe and supports the mission to “Resell, Recycle, Repurpose”.

The venture intends to “push the boundaries in fashion and culture, while working toward creating a better place for us all to live” according to their mission statement.

Details about appointments for consignment items and upcoming special events can be found on Main Street Ensemble’s Facebook page.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer Requires Face Coverings for Organized Sports

In a season of constant changes, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an order requiring players to mask up at sports practice and competition.

Whitmer said, “The COVID-19 virus is easily spread through airborne particles and can affect everyone differently. By wearing a face covering when proper distancing is not possible, athletes will be better protected from contracting the virus and spreading it to family members, frontline workers, and vulnerable populations. We cannot afford to let our guard down. As we continue to fight this virus, we need to make smart and informed choices so we can beat COVID-19 together.”  

Michigan High School Athletic Association asked for clarification on the issue, and the mandate was issued on Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommended against contact sports as well as activities that involve “shouting, singing, or breathing forcefully” and encouraged extensive cleaning and outdoor practicing.

Chief Medical Executive and MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said, “For those who do choose to play organized sports, we expect you to follow these strict safety measures and wear a face covering to reduce your risk and protect the health of your teammates, coaches, officials, and loved ones.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Residents Asked to Register Bikes

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department is asking residents to register their bicycles. The Blue Water Area has a lot of great places to ride a bike, but the fun is ruined if your bike is missing.

In a social media campaign, the department said that they accumulate numerous unclaimed bikes along with taking complaints for stolen bikes. If the owners can not be found, the bikes are sold at auction.

Registering bikes gives the department a way to connect recovered bikes with their rightful owners. Registering bikes is free and just takes a few minutes. 

Registrants are just asked for their name and address and information about the bike like the brand, model, serial number, and color. The registration gives police the information with which to notify you if your bike turns up at the police station as recovered property. 

The form can be completed online by clicking “Bicycle Registration” at porthuronpolice.org.

If citizens have information about stolen or lost bikes, they can call the Port Huron Police Department at 984-8415 or make a citizen’s report online. 

There is no penalty for not registering a bike in the city.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland