George James

Masks Not Mandated in Lambton County

Lambton County, Ontario, has released its recommendations and supporting data regarding mask wearing. According to Lambton Public Health, “Face coverings will not protect you from getting COVID-19. Your best protection is to maintain physical distancing and wash your hands.” They went on to say, “At this time in Lambton County, evidence and local context does not support the mandatory public use of masks in a community setting.”

Across the border in St Clair County, Michigan, masks are mandatory in all public settings and businesses can deny entry to individuals not wearing them. Mask wearing is a precaution to prevent infected people from transmitting the virus, according to MDHHS. Carriers can be asymptomatic.

Lambton County, with a population of 123,000 reports 286 overall cases of COVID-19 with 25 deaths. St. Clair County, with a population of 159,000 has 602 cases reported with 52 deaths since tracking began.

The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21. The Lambton County report can be found at:

https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/protect-yourself/#face-coverings.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Social District” Plans in the Works for Downtown Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron City Council will be presented with a plan to create new outdoor gathering spaces and social districts. The areas are meant to be gathering places that are less risky for virus transmission than traditional indoor bars, restaurants, and event centers.

The plan would also give downtown businesses a boost by giving consumers an option for staying and consuming food and beverages, particularly adult beverages, downtown. Municipalities are now lawfully able to designate particular areas where open intoxicants, clearly marked as such by the seller, can be consumed offsite.

The outdoor spaces, if approved, will be at McMorran Plaza and the pocket park by the Military Street Bridge. Both are planned to be quickly renovated into areas where people would naturally gather.

Port Huron City Manager James Freed described the project, saying, “You could buy a drink at one place and go to another place that doesn’t have a (liquor) license like Chef Shells and Maria’s and consume a drink. You can also take drinks to the two gathering places we are creating. Hence, these two projects would work together.”

All plans are subject to review by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

State Levies $3 Million Fine Against RNDC Liquor Supplier

An historic fine has been levied against the liquor distributor who caused a lot of headaches for local bar and restaurant owners over the past year. But, the $3 million fine will stay in the hands of the state.

Starting around this time last year, bar and restaurant owners were starting to have missing bottles in their orders and were not able to serve all of the cocktails on their menus. There was not an actual product shortage, but more a lack of organization from the supplier, Republic National Distributing Company, or RNDC.

Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, said, “The State will not tolerate vendor mismanagement that results in financial hardship which impacts the livelihood of liquor retailers across Michigan.”

When asked where the $3 million fine will go, Jeannie Vogel, Public Information Officer for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission said that the money goes into the state’s General Fund and the remedial measures like audits and more accountability will help ensure adequate stock and timely delivery to retailers.  The fine is intended to offset losses to the state due to the shortages and delivery issues, according to Vogel.

RNDC acknowledged all 88 violations of the Liquor Control Code in the settlement.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sparling Road Bridge and Dove Road Roundabout Projects Begin Next Week

Port Huron, MI — Road work is underway in St. Clair County on Sparling Road in Wales Township and at the intersection of Dove and Range Roads near I-94.

Sparling Road, between Goodells Road and Emerson Road will be closed to traffic starting the week of July 13th. The work will consist of both road and bridge improvements. The work is expected to be completed in late August. Detour routes will be posted, but local access will be maintained.

Construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Dove Road, Range Road, and the Eastbound I-94 exit begins July 16th and is expected to go through the beginning of September. The intersection will be completely closed. Eastbound I-94 traffic is advised to exit in Marysville.

According to the St. Clair County Road Commission, access to and from Westbound I-94 will be maintained, and access to the Eastbound I-94 on-ramp will also be maintained but only from north of the intersection.

The Sparling Road work has a $310,600 price tag, while the Roundabout project has a $1.16 million dollar estimated cost.  Both projects are financed with local, state, and federal funds.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Pack Your Patience When Returning Cans and Bottles

Port Huron, MI — For those frustrated with long lines to return cans and bottles to get the 10-cent deposit back, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has some advice: be patient. Summer holidays, warm weather, and the lingering stockpiles of cans and bottles in garages and basements statewide have created the perfect storm for a major strain on the bottle return system.

Michigan residents have paid deposits on about $80 million worth of returnable beverage cans and bottles since the COVID-19 crisis began. The eleven-week shutdown of deposit redemption facilities set the stage for a major headache for retailers forced to redeem the deposits.

The Michigan Department of Treasury set up limits to avoid a breakdown of the processing infrastructure and the reverse logistics of deposit returns. Individuals are allowed to return no more than $25 worth of returns per day. Retailers are only allowed to accept up to 140% of their 2019 sales volume of cans and bottles with a deposit.

EGLE warns that some facilities are at maximum capacity and may have to periodically close their redemption centers  due to mandatory limits. According to EGLE, masks and social distancing are a must when making those can and bottle returns.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Political Battle Over School CARES Money Ends Up in Court

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and  five other Attorneys General are challenging U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in U.S. District Court over the allocation of CARES Act money for schools. The complaint claims that a rule issued by DeVos “would unfairly limit the ability of public schools to use federal funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.”

Private school funding is at the core of the differing interpretations between DeVos, a Republican appointee, and the Democratic Attorneys General. DeVos has directed funds to be allocated to all schools, regardless of perceived need, including private schools. Nessel and her colleagues contend that the money is to be spent based on Title I eligibility and that DeVos’ plan will rob the poorest schools of the money and send it to neighboring affluent private schools.

State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice joined in the outrage, saying that Devos “manufactured” formula will divert $16 million from public to nonpublic schools.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland