George James

Pharmacists may now dispense emergency refills of prescriptions for up to 60 days worth of supply for patients as part of a new Executive Order signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The order takes effect immediately and ends on April 22, with potential for renewal if needed. 

The order requires insurers to cover the emergency refills and allows pharmacists to dispense treatments to those suffering from COVID-19 infection, according to government approved protocol. The order does not include controlled substances. The purpose of the order is to “ease a burden on seniors and families worried about maintaining a supply of medication for themselves or their children,” according to Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy Director for Health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. 

The effort is part of the state’s Stay Home, Stay Safe mandate and is aimed at patients and their caretakers who may be forced to go out to get medications, possibly increasing their likelihood of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The order also allows pharmacists to use their discretion to substitute therapeutically equivalent medications without prescriber approval if there are critical shortages.

Now is the time to rescan your TV if you use an over-the-air antenna to get access to local television stations, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Many local stations are changing frequencies to help free up airwaves for new high-speed wireless service. They are required by law to make the change. 

Antenna users in the local area need to rescan now to continue receiving free programming from the Detroit market of television stations. You may need to rescan more than once to get all the stations, according to tvanswers.org, which is an initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters to provide information about the scan to antenna users. No new equipment is needed to update the frequencies, and no scan is needed for cable or satellite TV users.

 Once the rescan is done, local TV viewers are likely to find that they get more channels, including some Canadian channels. Antennas are used by 72 million Americans, many of whom will be impacted by the switch of nearly 1,000 stations. For additional assistance in rescanning, contact the FCC’s consumer hotline at 1-888-225-5322 and press prompt number 6.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Way of St. Clair County’s (UWSCC) Board of Directors has made additional funds available through the organization’s long-standing Emergency Services Fund.

The fund will be used for a multitude of efforts to help with recovery, including food, housing, utilities assistance, operational funding gaps for health and human service agencies and access to services for vulnerable populations.

During this time of great concern, the local United Way attests it seen businesses, organizations, and residents join together and stand united for the benefit of all. This has partly been seen in the form of financial donations to UWSCC’s Emergency Services Fund. The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Meijer, and The Stebbins Family have already contributed significantly to the fund. 

In accordance with Governor Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order, the United Way’s office will be closed at least through April 13. As always, 211 is a three-digit phone call available 24/7 to connect residents with information and referrals to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week is National Agriculture Week. Now, more than ever, the importance of local farmers as essential workers is highlighted as many are hard at work feeding the world. According to Croswell area farmer, Dennis Gardner, it looks like an early spring. Gardner, the Treasurer of the East District Sugar Beet Board and Director of the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, said that there are about 6,000 acres of sugar beets planted in the Thumb area. He said farmers are hoping for a better year this year than last, as weather conditions had a major impact. Gardner said crop yields last year were about 25-40% less than normal. However, Gardner also said most farmers are optimistic about this year, but a concern is the availability of truckers to get seed and fertilizer delivered. 

National Agriculture Week is intended to bring together all of the stakeholders in the industry to recognize the contributions of agriculture and the American farmer. Ag Day is usually celebrated on March 24 at schools around the country. The event didn’t happen this year, but according to the Agriculture Council of America, the hope is to continue reminding people that “Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis…Each American farmer feeds more than 165 people.”

Returning cans and bottles to the store to get your deposit back is on hold for now, as everyone tries to avoid the COVID-19 virus. According to a statement from several beverage retailer associations, the ban on returns is in effect to protect workers. In a recent statement, the organizations explained,“the health, safety and well-being of employees and their families is top priority.” 

The associations are advising “retailers to no longer accept empty containers of beer, wine and soda and distributors of those beverages to no longer accept or collect the containers.” The COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for several days, putting “employees and their loved ones at risk each time they collect empty beverage containers.” 

Food and beverage retailers are considered essential services and staff are still expected to work in the midst of Michigan’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” mandate.  In the meantime, residents will have to let those empties pile up in the garage and take them back when COVID -19 is under control and things are back to normal.

Mid City Nutrition in Port Huron is reminding those in need, that they are still continuing their mission to “serve the hungry of St. Clair County.” Mid City is continuing to serve meals at 805 Chestnut Street in the basement of St. Martin Lutheran Church Monday through Saturday from 11a.m. until noon and Sunday through Friday 4-5 p.m.

Mid City says the meals being passed out are hot and healthy, prepared individuals donating their time to make sure that no one in the community goes hungry. In a recent statement Mid City said they “are doing everything” in their power to make sure that volunteers and staff are provided a safe environment to continue to serve those in need. After being prepared, the meals are being handed out through a pickup style at the double doors of the center.

Mid City is also thanking all the volunteers and organizations who have pitched in to donate, prepare, pack up and pass out meals, along with those giving monetarily. Anyone with questions can call the kitchen at (810) 982-9261.