Local News

Port Huron police are inviting families to Pine Grove Park Saturday for a sensory-friendly event centered on autism and special needs awareness. It starts at 11 a.m., where officers, firefighters, EMS crews and tow truck drivers will give visitors a chance to meet first responders and explore emergency vehicles without loud lights or sirens. The event is designed to reduce fear and help responders better understand individual needs during emergencies. Attendees can also register for the Home Alert Program, which helps dispatchers notify officers when someone at a home may need specialized care.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Sarnia residents are gearing up for the fifth annual Slow Roll on Sunday, June 14th. The free, 12-kilometre bike ride starts from the Royal Canadian Legion on Front Street and winds along the St. Clair River to Canatara Park. Organizers hope to top last year’s 600 riders and are asking everyone to wear red for a unified look. The event raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, with donations matched up to $5,000. Police escorts and volunteers will guide the ride.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Bad Axe, Michigan car dealer will serve prison time after a long-running loan fraud scheme. George Janssen Jr. was sentenced to three years in federal prison and must repay more than $900,000. Prosecutors say he used the same vehicles to secure multiple loans, collecting nearly $2 million from several banks. Investigators also say Janssen staged a fake kidnapping in 2023 as the scheme began to unravel. He is expected to report to prison by the end of June.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Police scanners in Port Huron are going quiet this week as the city encrypts all police radio traffic, cutting off public access to calls. City officials say the move follows Michigan State Police rules to protect sensitive information after an FBI audit found gaps statewide. Police say daily operations will not change, but only authorized users will hear transmissions. Some residents oppose the switch, saying it limits transparency, while officials argue it improves officer and public safety.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Michigan farmer is getting statewide recognition for high wheat production. Sanilac County grower Dwight Bartle placed third in the ’25 Michigan Wheat Yield Contest, producing just over 148 bushels per acre of soft red winter wheat on his Brown City farm. The contest, supported by the Michigan Wheat Program and National Wheat Foundation, highlights growers using new methods to boost yields. Bartle, a Michigan Wheat Board member, also grows corn, soybeans, and sugar beets and stays active in community service.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Five fifth-grade students from St. Edward on the Lake Catholic School are heading to an international robotics competition at Georgia Tech in Atlanta this June after ranking among the top one percent of programs statewide, making them one of only two elementary teams in Michigan to earn the invitation. Coach Crystal Forro and her son Avery lead teammates Matthew Hyde, Kaileigh Deegan, Regina Osantowski, Jemma Hengehold-Parrott, and Emersyn Schuler, who advanced through regional and state competitions, with the event set for June fifth through seventh.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet