Local News

Basketball season is set to begin, so get ready to root for your favorite teams and follow them to victory! St. Clair County Community College will be starting the season by hosting the 2nd Annual Wolverine Invitational.

Beginning Friday, September 30th – October 2nd, this wheelchair basketball tournament will kick off with a match between University of Michigan’s Wolverines and the Brampton Crashers at 6:30 PM on Friday. Admission for spectators is  free. 

There will also be a wheelchair sports clinic happening at 1 PM on Friday featuring demonstrations and formal instruction from professional wheelchair sports players. Available clinics are wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair basketball. 

For more details and information visit https://sc4.edu/

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The City of Port Huron Parks & Recreation Department began installing a new playground structure at Gratiot Park earlier this summer, and it’s almost complete. There are a few more pieces of equipment needed to make the park accessible for those with physical disabilities or limitations, and they are asking for the help of the community.

The City of Port Huron Parks & Rec Dept. is hosting their PlayABLE Walk and Roll benefit walk to raise additional funds for the new equipment. It begins October 7th, at 9 AM inside the McMorran Place Theater in downtown Port Huron.

If you would like more information about how to donate or participate in the PlayABLE Walk and Roll, you can register for the fundraiser here: www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C45A5AE2DA0F49-disability

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

A never before tasted beer will be a centerpiece attraction  for Port Huron Museum’s annual HOPStoberfest beer tasting. Working with Black and Blue  Brewery of Port Huron, guests will be able to sample an all new porter named for a local  historical figure: Omar D. Conger. Omar D. Conger, The Man, The Ship, The Beer is a porter,  and will commemorate both the 19th century US Senator who hailed from Port Huron, as well  as the ship that was named in his honor that exploded in downtown Port Huron in 1922 

“We’re very excited to highlight some stories that many in the area may be unfamiliar with.  Most people have heard the name Omar D. Conger before, we even have two streets in town with the names Omar and Conger,” said Community Engagement manager and Historian  Andrew Kercher. He continued, “Less people are familiar with his time as US Senator and his  involvement in the founding of the American Red Cross in 1881. There was also a ferry named  in his honor that carried tens of thousands of passengers between Port Huron and Sarnia for  many years. It’s only fitting that on the 100th year since the explosion of the ship, we introduce  a beer with the same name to keep these stories alive. What could be a better combination than  beer and museums?” 

This will be the first and so far only chance to try the newest creation from Black and Blue  Brewery. The beer tasting will take place at Port Huron Museums’ Carnegie Museum October  7th, from 6 to 10 pm. Aside from dozens of other Michigan made craft beers from breweries  across the state, there will be live music provided by From Dusk Till Dawn, games and the  opportunity to explore the many exhibits on display in the 1904 Carnegie building. There are  also several craft stations where attendees, for a small cost to cover materials can make  creations like acrylic paint pour pumpkins, or beer themed ceramic tiles.  

Tickets are $35 and come with 6 sample tickets and are available at  

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/408154389767 or by calling the Museum at 810.982.0891.

Submitted by the Port Huron Museums

Hey, Blue Water Area! Get ready for the upcoming Oktoberfest at the McMorran Plaza. You may be asking yourself, “What is Oktoberfest exactly?” Well, it’s a celebration/festival with its origin in Munich, Germany.

On October 12th, 1810, Oktoberfest started as a celebration of the marriage of King Louis I. Today it is a huge two-week celebration with parades, games, music, and more. What it is most famously known for is the beer drinking. It is said that approximately 2 million gallons are consumed each year!

The Oktoberfest on the McMorran Plaza will be the first at the newly upgraded Plaza located in Downtown Port Huron. Beginning Saturday, October 15, at 1 PM, the event will feature a full day of games, competitions, food, and of course, beer! 

For more information, visit https://www.mcmorran.com/oktoberfest

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The waters of Lake Huron hold many secrets. Sunken ships and more lurk at the bottom of one of Michigan’s most well known lakes. Over the years, there have been plenty of found objects of significance, but the plane of a former Tuskegee Airman has been monumental enough to be part of the National Museum of the Great Lakes 2022 Fall Lecture Series.

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. They are well known for escorting bombers and having one of the lowest loss records of any escort fighter groups ever.

The wreckage of 2nd Lt. Frank Moody was found in Lake Huron, and a monument was put in place to honor them last year not far from the site of the crash.

The lecture will be presented by State Maritime Archaeologist Wayne Lusardi on September 28th, from 7 PM – 8:30 PM. It will be a hybrid event using Zoom with individuals also being able to view the presentation live at the museum for a watch party.

For more details and information, call (419) 214-5000

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell