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Local News

The USCGC Hollyhock Gets A New Captain

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock, located in Port Huron has had a changing of the guard, as they welcomed aboard their new Lieutenant Commander last week.

The Hollyhock held their Change of Command Ceremony last Friday that saw former Commander Stephen Brickey’s departure and its new Captain, Lieutenant Commander Kent Hunt stepping into his new role. 

Former Captain Brickey served aboard the Hollyhock as Captain from 2021 until 2023. 

LCDR Hunt graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. Hunt has also served aboard the USCGC Active as Electronics Officer, Auxiliary Officer, Fueling Officer, and Damage Control Assistant. 

LCDR Hunt also served aboard the Hollyhock as Operations Officer and most recently as the Executive Officer aboard the Alder and Spar. Hunt recently moved to the area along with his wife and their first child.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Gov. Whitmer Celebrates One-Year Anniversary Of Caring For MI Future

In a recent update, Governor Whitmer revealed that 687 child care entrepreneurs have successfully opened new child care programs, while an additional 1,829 center- and home-based programs have expanded their services to accommodate more children. These efforts have resulted in lower costs and increased access to quality child care for families across the state.

The announcement coincided with the one-year anniversary of the launch of Caring for MI Future, a comprehensive strategy aimed at opening 1,000 new child care programs by the end of 2024. 

Michigan is making remarkable progress in achieving this goal, as evidenced by the nearly 700 new child care licenses already issued, surpassing expectations for this stage in 2023.

Governor Whitmer emphasized the significance of investing in high-quality and affordable child care, highlighting the benefits of lower costs for working families, increased parental employment, and the provision of a safe and nurturing environment for children’s growth and development.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Rocket Mortgage Classic Welcomes Celebrities Barry Sanders, Chris Webber, And More At The AREA 313 Celebrity Scramble

The AREA 313 Celebrity Scramble is set to take place on Tuesday, June 27th, at 5 p.m. at Detroit Golf Club, located at 17911 Hamilton Rd, Detroit.

The event is a highlight of the upcoming Detroit Community Days, offering complimentary admission and parking to the Rocket Mortgage Classic on both Tuesday and Wednesday, June 28th.

The AREA 313 Celebrity Scramble features six four-player teams competing in a thrilling three-hole exhibition match on holes 14 through 16 at Detroit Golf Club, famously known as AREA 313. 

Each team is led by PGA TOUR stars, alongside celebrity athletes, entertainers, players from THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Golf Invitational presented by Rocket Mortgage, and corporate partners. Additional participants for the Celebrity Scramble will be announced in the coming weeks.

Notable additions to this year’s event include Chris Webber, The Miz, Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, Dylan Larkin, and Tom Izzo.

For more information and ticket prices, visit: rocketmortgageclassic.com. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Community Groups Host Juneteenth Celebration At SC4

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will be hosting their 2023 Juneteenth celebration on Monday, June 19th, from 12-6 pm. The event will be located on the SC4 Greenway at 323 Erie Street, in Port huron. 

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Freedom,” as the event aims to commemorate this important day in American history and emphasize that freedom transcends race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. 

There will be games and activities, food and retail vendors, live entertainment, giveaways, community resources, and more.

The collaborative effort involves SC4, Port Huron Museums, Port Huron Branch NAACP, Black Lives Matter, the City of Port Huron, the St. Clair County Community Foundation, C4 Yourself Church, and St. Clair County Organizing for Regional Equity. 

The event welcomes everyone to come together and honor the significance of Juneteenth, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and freedom.

For more information, visit: sc4.edu.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The Blue Water Cruise Weekend Is Coming To Port Huron

Summertime in the Blue Water Area isn’t complete without the carnival, fireworks, and Cruise Night on the agenda, so get ready to have a blast with family and friends when the Blue Water Cruise Weekend comes to town.

Cruise Weekend will be putting on three extravagant events for the community to enjoy from June 22nd – 25th. It begins Thursday with the carnival at Birchwood Mall on the corner of 24th Ave. and Keewahdin Rd. featuring the usual family fun and food that we all love. 

Friday kicks off Cruise Night from 6pm – 10pm. Cruise night will feature cars and trucks of various years, makes, and models as they cruise down Pine Grove Ave. and 24th Ave. There will also be prizes and free trolley rides along the route. 

Saturday’s events will feature the 16th Annual Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show from 10am – 3pm and ending with a fireworks display later that evening.

Be sure to tune in to WGRT 102.3 FM on June 23rd from 5-11pm to hear Drew Jacobs & Alex Shier roll out their oldies favorites as well as some of their own content during The Blue Water Cruise Weekend 2023!

For more details and information, visit: Blue Water Cruise Weekend on Facebook.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Michigan Beachgoers: If The Flags Are Red Don’t Go Swimming

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has introduced a change to its Great Lakes flag warning system, just in time for the start of the summer season. 

To enhance awareness of changing conditions and ensure public safety, the DNR has implemented “double red warning flags” at state-designated swim beaches along the Great Lakes in Michigan state parks. These flags indicate that water access is closed due to dangerous conditions, representing the most severe level of the flag system that was integrated in 2022.

The move comes in response to a rise in accidents and drownings on the Great Lakes in recent years. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports a total of 1,170 drownings since 2010, with 108 occurring in 2022 alone. 

Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief, stressed the importance of understanding the power of the Great Lakes and the potential for even experienced swimmers to find themselves in life-threatening situations.

For more information on the meaning of the colored flags, visit: michigan.gov.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell