Local News

Sarnia-Lambton travellers can now fly straight to downtown Toronto instead of making the drive or catching a shuttle to Pearson. Aspen Air Charters will fly twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, bringing back scheduled passenger flights for the first time since Air Canada pulled out in ’20. Morning flights leave Sarnia at 7:30 and land in Toronto at 8:30, with return flights leaving at 5:20 p.m. and touching down back home at 6:30.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron voters have handed Mayor Anita Ashford 2 more years to pursue her goal of drawing new residents to the city. Unofficial results from all 10 precincts show Ashford earned 4,222 votes, or about 44%, topping former City Council members Tim McCulloch with 2,747 votes and Alan Lewandowski with 2,521. Ashford campaigned on better communication with residents and less division on council. Both challengers thanked their supporters and wished the council well. The St. Clair County Board of Canvassers must still certify the results.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

St. Clair County heart patients no longer have to leave home for a procedure that can lower their stroke risk, and 50 of them have already benefited. McLaren Port Huron performed its 50th Watchman implant on October 27th, just months after becoming the county’s first hospital to offer it in March. The device seals off a pocket in the heart where clots can form in people with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat linked to about 20 percent of strokes, and it may let patients stop long-term blood thinners.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron voters have filled three City Council seats, though the race for the final spot came down to just 239 votes. Jeff Pemberton led the six-candidate field with 4,567 votes, followed by Brian Farquhar with 3,913 and Jack Belyea with 3,553. Robert Mosurak finished just short with 3,314 votes, while Amir McDuffie earned 3,190 and Gregg DeVoogd received 1,650. All Port Huron precincts have reported, but the results remain unofficial until they are certified by the St. Clair County Board of Canvassers.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Chesterfield Township man is searching for his missing cat after a car crashed through his living room near 23 Mile and Donner roads. Michael Pingel says a Detroit Lions timeout got him off the couch around 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25th, and moments later a black Kia burst through the wall, stopping feet from where he had been sitting. Pingel says 4 young people jumped out, and 1 was hospitalized with minor injuries. Chesterfield Township Police are investigating, and anyone who spots Pingel’s cat is asked to reach out.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron residents who need to pay a water bill or handle city business after work now have extra time, but Fridays are off the table. New hours took effect this week at the Municipal Office Center at 100 McMorran Boulevard. Instead of closing at 4:30 p.m. every weekday, city offices now stay open until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and until 5 p.m. on Thursday. The offices are closed Fridays, though water payments can still go in the drop box in the north parking lot.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet