Local News

Port Huron’s City Manager James Freed is rolling out a new regional plan to fix the Black River canal’s failed Tainter gate. Freed says a low construction bid came in at 4.7 million dollars—almost a million under estimate. His approach skips tax hikes, placing the cost on boaters through a permit system priced between $100 and $200 a year. Those fees would repay a 30‑year bond, backed by a million dollars in private donations. If approved soon, the canal could fully reopen by April of next year.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Port Huron father accused of killing one child and badly hurting two others will face trial this summer. Forty‑five‑year‑old Jeffery Smerer appeared in court Monday after months of delay for a psychiatric review. A plea hearing is set for May 26, with trial starting June 2nd. Prosecutors say Smerer shot his three children at their Glenview Court home last September, hours before being sentenced for indecent exposure. He now faces 10 felony charges—including open murder and child abuse—that could send him to prison for life.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Early Friday morning, Port Huron Police stopped a car driving with no lights around 3:30 a.m. Officer Skylar Snay and Officer Tess Grifka found three people inside. A woman tried to fake her name but officers discovered she had a warrant and arrested her. When searching the car, police found stolen and fraudulent items linked to other local crimes. A male passenger was also arrested for blocking the investigation and carrying drugs and paraphernalia. Both suspects were booked into the St. Clair County Jail on multiple charges.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

In Marine City, police are investigating a dangerous swatting call that sent heavily armed officers to a South Water Street office building Sunday evening. Dispatchers got the threat from someone claiming he was holding hostages at gunpoint near the Riviera Restaurant and demanding a fifty-thousand-dollar ransom. Crews evacuated nearby businesses and used drones and tactical teams to search the building, clearing it around nine p.m. Nothing was found. Police say the caller’s story was fake but serious, and Chief Jim Healsip warns such hoaxes put lives at risk.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

In Port Huron, St. Clair County Community College and Saginaw Valley State University are teaming up to make earning a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree easier for local students. A new partnership signed last week means SC4 grads get guaranteed admission to SVSU—and nursing students can now work toward a BSN through both schools at once. Classes could start on the SC4 campus as soon as this fall. Leaders say the goal is to meet Michigan’s growing demand for skilled workers.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Vinculum Care Foundation has launched across Macomb, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties to support the caregivers behind the scenes. It’s the nonprofit arm of Vinculum Care, known for helping seniors age with dignity at home. The foundation is offering caregiver grants up to $2,500 for expenses like medical supplies or respite care. Its Dementia 360 program gives locals a rare look through the eyes of those living with dementia. Partnering with hospitals and community groups, Vinculum Care Foundation aims to make sure no caregiver faces the challenge alone.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet