Local News

Port Huron seniors planning to attend the annual Senior Picnic will need to adjust their plans due to dangerous heat in the forecast. The Port Huron Recreation Department and St. Clair County Council on Aging have postponed the free event at Pine Grove Park to Tuesday, July 21st. The picnic will still run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with lunch served between 11:30 and 12:30, along with live music. Organizers say the change is meant to keep residents 60 and older safe while still offering a fun community gathering next week.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Port Huron man is now awaiting sentencing after admitting to multiple child exploitation charges. Twenty-year-old Edison Tran pleaded guilty to five counts tied to possessing explicit images of minors and using social media to pressure teenage girls into sending nude photos. Investigators say the case began last fall after a tip from another police department led to a search of his home and phone, where several illegal images were found. Tran faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for late August.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A serious two-vehicle crash in Sanilac County’s Speaker Township Monday morning left three people injured and sent emergency crews rushing to a rural intersection. Deputies say a 54-year-old Oxford man driving a Ford F-150 failed to stop at a sign on Galbraith Line Road and was hit by a southbound pickup driven by a 67-year-old Peck man. A 63-year-old passenger had to be freed using rescue tools. All three were hospitalized. Investigators say drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A city investigation in Port Huron clears City Manager James Freed of claims he accessed Mayor Anita Ashford’s emails, with council members voting 7-0 to release the findings publicly. Independent attorneys reviewed records, interviewed staff and examined examples provided by Ashford, but found no proof Freed accessed or controlled her city or personal accounts. The report also found no support for claims others helped him. While Freed welcomed the results, Ashford says she plans to pursue further legal action, keeping the dispute ongoing.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Lexington man now faces a more serious charge after a violent encounter with bail bond agents at a Roseville gas station. Prosecutors say 45-year-old Aaron Hildreth tried to flee during a June 18th arrest attempt near 12 Mile and Gratiot, crashing into an agent’s vehicle and pinning the agent between cars. Authorities say he hit the vehicle again before another agent shot him in the arm. A judge added a higher felony charge and sent the case to circuit court. Hildreth remains jailed on a $250,000 bond, with arraignment set for July 20th.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Port Huron nonprofit is turning small donations into big impact this month, asking residents to drop off 24-count crayon packs to help fill school kits for children in Guatemala. A Beautiful Me hopes to collect 1,000 boxes, which will be distributed to thousands of elementary students through its longtime partner, Servant Ministries. Organizers say even low-cost purchases, sometimes just 25 cents, can help provide essential learning tools. Donations are being accepted all month at The Closet by A Beautiful Me on Huron Avenue in downtown Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet