Local News

A familiar face is back leading emergency response in St. Clair County. Timothy Niggemeyer, a former Tri-Hospital EMS leader, has returned as CEO after more than a decade away. The service now handles nearly 26,000 calls a year across most of the county, more than double ’14 levels. His top priority is an August millage vote that helps fund ambulances, staffing, and response times. Without it, leaders say the system could struggle. Niggemeyer is also preparing crews for future changes, including new technology in emergency care.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A former church property in Clyde Township is getting new life as a sports complex. The 6.8-acre site on Imlay City Road sold for $325,000 in a cash deal on May 20 after about three months on the market. A private buyer plans to turn the former Grace Baptist Church into a soccer-focused multi-use facility. The nearly 14,000-square-foot property includes classrooms, a gym, and additional buildings. The sale also boosts a regional faith-based foundation supporting nonprofits across eastern Michigan.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Port Huron is spotlighting one of the Great Lakes’ oldest residents this week. Sturgeon Fest and Friends runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Park on Omar Street, with free admission and parking. Families can see live lake sturgeon up close in a touch tank, join hands-on activities and workshops, and watch an Anishinaabe drum ceremony. Organizers say the St. Clair River supports more than 10,000 of the giant fish, which can reach six feet and live a century.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A former Michigan school employee is now facing serious charges after a months-long investigation. Sixty-year-old Duane Paehlig, once the maintenance director for Sandusky Community Schools, was arraigned in Sanilac County court and did not enter a plea. Prosecutors accuse him of embezzling at least $20,000, committing forgery, and damaging school property. Police say searches at his home last October turned up district-owned items. He is being held on a $100,000 bond and is due back in court June 9. If convicted, he could face years in prison.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Lapeer County murder case is on hold after a judge ruled the suspect is not competent to stand trial. Authorities say 32-year-old William Channer Jr. of Columbus Township shot and killed his former boss, Logan Welch, at Trims Unlimited in Almont last November. Channer later led deputies on a high-speed chase before being shot and arrested. A forensic evaluation found him incompetent but “restorable,” meaning treatment could allow the case to move forward. Prosecutors say the court will review his condition monthly.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A traveling exhibit is bringing Michigan’s Thumb history to local communities this summer. The Sanilac County Historical Society will take “Echoes of Sanilac” to 15 stops across Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, and Lapeer counties from June through September, with free admission. The exhibit covers everything from ancient petroglyphs to Great Lakes shipping, wildfires, and Prohibition-era rumrunning. Organizers say it highlights how everyday people shaped the region through hardship and change. A permanent display is also open at the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum in Port Sanilac.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet