Local News

Drivers heading toward the Blue Water Bridge this weekend should expect a brief detour. The Michigan Department of Transportation will close the westbound I-94 and I-69 connector from Pine Grove Avenue for pavement repairs Friday through Monday. Westbound traffic will be routed along Pine Grove and Griswold Street before rejoining the freeway. The project aims to fix past patchwork failures and boost long-term safety. MDOT urges drivers to plan ahead and check its website for live traffic updates.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

The Sherman Woods neighborhood in Port Huron wrapped up its holiday season with record-breaking generosity. The local homeowners association raised more than $7,000 for the Port Huron Salvation Army through its annual Red Kettle drive — up 17 percent from last year. Over the past decade, the community has contributed more than $55,000 to families in need. Volunteers collected donations as visitors enjoyed the neighborhood’s dazzling centennial light displays, carolers, and even horse-drawn carriage rides.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

In Port Huron, drivers finally have smoother travel as Lapeer Avenue reopened at the end of December after months of delays. City Manager James Freed says sidewalks and paving are done, with only final cleanup and grass seeding planned for spring. The $2.9 million project hit snags last year, leading the city to withhold more than $100,000 in penalties from contractor Boddy Construction over missed deadlines. Freed says the city may think twice before hiring that firm again, but for now, residents can enjoy a fully open route through town.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A slick stretch of M-53 near Marlette sent emergency crews racing to a crash early Monday morning. Around 7:30, deputies say a southbound car spun out on the icy road and slid into oncoming traffic just south of Clifford Road. The impact sent the 49-year-old driver from Brown City and her passenger to Aspire Rural Health in Marlette. The other driver, a 75-year-old woman also from Brown City, was taken to McLaren Lapeer for treatment. Her passenger was not hurt.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron Police stumbled onto a major drug bust last week. Officer Hoppe pulled over a pickup near 10th and Rawlins for no taillights Sunday night. The driver and passenger seemed nervous, so a K9 was brought in—and quickly alerted to drugs inside the truck. Officers found four ounces of meth, drug packaging, and even a police scanner app on the suspects’ phones. Both were arrested and booked into the St. Clair County Jail on drug and felony scanner charges.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

In Port Huron, the city council has given the green light to a major industrial project expected to keep hundreds of jobs in town. Leaders unanimously approved selling nearly 20 acres on Dove and 28th Streets to developer J.B. Donaldson for $10,000 per usable acre. The deal paves the way for a 230,000-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing center that’s been years in the making. Officials say the new facility will anchor more than 550 jobs, and position Port Huron for long-term growth.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet