George James

“Five Days of Action” at YMCA to Protect Children

Port Huron, MI — The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is participating in Five Days of Action, which is a weeklong campaign designed to raise awareness and protect children from sexual abuse. The YMCA is offering tips, tools, activities, and resources that are geared toward the current climate of dealing with the pandemic.

The theme of the campaign is “One Day at a Time”. Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their kids by playing the “What If?” game to see how they would respond to situations and teach them how to get out of bad situations. 

The campaign addresses online safety, keeping kids safe and busy during social distancing, and creating a family code of conduct.Adults are also given tips on responding to abuse and knowing where to go for help.

Last year, 428 YMCAs participated in the week-long campaign. With things being quite a bit different this year and isolation being the norm, the program is adapting with an online format at fivedaysofaction.org. Anyone can access the website to learn the valuable information about protecting our children.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Smartphone Tracking Alert Issued by AG

A Consumer Alert has been issued by Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel regarding Smartphone tracking. The alert gives information on disabling tracking activity but also mentions that some tracking can be useful, such as COVID-19 monitoring.

Nessel said, “Our cell phones have become an essential communication tool. Because of that, I am committed to ensuring that Michigan consumers know the facts behind digital tracking and information-sharing. These technological advances may cause some to feel their privacy is being compromised, but those same advances are also providing us with unique opportunities like contact tracing to combat COVID-19. I want every Michigander to know how to ensure their smartphones are helping combat this pandemic without invading our privacy.”   

The full Alert explains how your phone and social media platforms are not really “listening”, but they are definitely tracking you. Instructions for limiting the tracking are given for both Android and Apple devices.

The complete Consumer Alert can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-81903_20942-542694–,00.html.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Port Huron School District Adjusts Instructional Schedule

Port Huron, MI — In a letter to parents, Port Huron School District announced some changes to the instructional schedule. Currently, students are receiving instruction either completely virtually or with a hybrid schedule with some in-person days and some virtual days.

The new schedule was approved by the Board of Education at a meeting on October 23rd. The new schedule has Tuesday, November 3rd as a Remote Learning Day for all students with Learning Labs open. Wednesday, November 25th is a Remote Learning Day with buildings closed. Friday, December 11th is a Remote Learning Day with Buildings and Learning Labs open, and both Friday, February 12th and Monday, February 15th are Remote Learning Days with buildings closed. Parents who may have scheduled a mid-winter break vacation during February are reassured that the instruction is “any place, any pace”, so they can still take their trips.

Learning Labs will be available by appointment at Crull Elementary, Holland Woods Middle School and Port Huron High School. More information will be sent to families.

The updated schedule allows for school to end on June 11th, 2021, and meets the requirement to offer 180 instructional days.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

State Employees Returning to Work Get Workplace Protections

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an Executive Directive late last week meant to protect state employees from COVID-19, which is reported to be on the rise in the state. The order requires state departments and autonomous agencies to tighten up their policies and procedures to protect workers returning to work.

Whitmer said, “Our state employees’ tireless efforts on our behalf have saved lives and protected our most vulnerable communities, and we must ensure that when they return to work, they can feel safe from the spread of COVID-19. This executive directive will ensure that every state workplace implements strict safety measures to protect our state employees, their families, and Michiganders everywhere from this virus. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to protect the people of Michigan from the spread of COVID-19.” 

According to the directive, return-to-work policies must address, at a minimum, personal protection equipment, social distancing, cleaning, employee screening, procedures for returning employees to work areas, and communication to employees on policies. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Funding Natural Resources Trust Fund on the Ballot with Proposal 1

What is Proposal 1? It is a proposal to allow money from oil and gas mining on state-owned lands to continue to be collected in state funds for public land preservation. It allows for the State Parks Endowment Fund to cap at $800 million and subsequent money to go into the Natural Resources Trust Fund. It also specifies percentages of funding that would go into state park improvement, recreation areas, and land conservation.

Those in favor of the proposal, such as conservation and business groups, say that a yes vote puts money into the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which has been protecting drinking water sources, natural outdoor spaces, and wildlife habitats. They say that Proposal 1 will expand the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund.

Those against the passage of the proposal, such as the Thumb Land Conservancy, say, it’s passing “will forever reduce the amount of money spent each and every year on important land and habitat protection projects.”

Voters will decide whether to change the funding or leave it alone when they vote on Proposal 1 on November 3rd.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

National Drug Take Back Day at SCC Sheriff’s Office Saturday

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department is participating in National Drug Take Back Day this weekend. Medications can be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office at 1170 Michigan Road between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24th.

Responsibly disposing of unneeded pills helps deter drug abuse and crime as well as help protect the environment. Sheriff Tim Donnellon said, “We encourage everyone who has pills that are unwanted or expired to bring them to our office. Disposing of the pills properly ensures they don’t end up being improperly used and keeps them out of our drinking water.”

Only pills are accepted. Liquids, syringes, patches, inhalers, and creams are not accepted. The pills are turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, which incinerates them.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office has been hosting Drug Take Back Days eighteen times and has collected over 2400 pounds of pills.

If you can’t make it to the Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, you can still drop them off at the Sheriff’s Office during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland