Local News

In an extraordinary twist during a Tuesday night emergency near Bay Port, powerful air from a rescue vessel unexpectedly helped extinguish a dangerous marsh fire. First responders rushed to Brush’s Marina shortly before 8 o’clock after a conservation officer heard a stranded boater crying for help near the spreading blaze. A joint rescue team safely pulled the uninjured boater aboard an airboat, and as they sped back to shore, the craft’s intense engine thrust surprisingly blew out the burning marsh, fully concluding the incident by 9.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Sarnia Police Board Chair Kelly Ash is defending the board’s strict silence over the suspension of Police Chief Derek Davis, asking residents for patience while legal rules restrict official updates. Chief Davis remains on paid leave following a workplace harassment complaint, alongside a separate criminal investigation into his private consulting activities and hiring decisions. With Deputy Chief Ron Hansen also suspended, former Toronto official Mike Federico has stepped in as interim chief to maintain local public safety.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron firefighters at Station 4 are temporarily packing their gear and relocating to Station 1 starting this Monday, while their 24th Street facility receives a major overhaul. A $350,000 dollar renovation running through mid-September will fix damaged driveway concrete and seal bay floors with protective epoxy. Crews will also replace the roof and gutters, repair masonry mortar, fix sidewalks, and install new underground storm water drainage to keep the station functional.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Tragedy struck Lake St. Clair last weekend when 23-year-old James Kramer of Northville drowned during the annual Raft-Off event. Witnesses reported seeing Kramer enter the water 2 to 3 miles south of the South Channel on Saturday before vanishing beneath the surface. Emergency crews, including the Macomb County Dive Team and the US Coast Guard, launched an extensive 2-day search across the area. Divers recovered his body on Monday morning. Authorities do not suspect foul play and have offered their heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Parents in St. Clair County can protect their young children from hidden learning barriers by booking free health screenings at the health department on Fort Street in Port Huron. Staff will conduct vision and hearing checks from August 25th through September 10th, while the Smiles on Wheels program provides free oral care on select dates between August 27th and September 3rd. Families entering preschool or kindergarten in the Fall can reserve their spot online or call extension 1474 to help their kids start the school year ready to succeed.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Officials from both the US and Canada are warning people to avoid this Sunday’s unsanctioned Port Huron Float Down along the swift St. Clair River, citing severe safety hazards ranging from hypothermia in sixty-degree waters to accidental drownings. Emergency responders caution that fast-moving currents, heavy alcohol consumption, and a widespread lack of life jackets create dangerous rescue conditions. To prevent catastrophic accidents and vessel collisions, authorities are shutting down all commercial boat traffic along the river from noon until 6 p.m.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet