Local News

The past few years have been extremely challenging for many families and individuals. We are just beginning to readjust and bounce back from the pandemic that caused many to lose their jobs, homes, and more. The city of Port Huron is facing yet another blow to its community with the announcement of one of its oldest businesses set to close their doors.

Dunn Paper has been in the community providing employment since 1924, that’s 98 years and generations of families who have made a living working there. Dunn Paper manufactures paper products for the medical industry, food service, industrial and more. 

Doors are set to close November 18th at their Port Huron location with their six other locations currently being unaffected. Reasons for the closure are due to the company not generating enough positive cash flow to sustain itself due to adverse economic factors. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Port Huron, MI – Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its September 2022 Employee of the Month, Danette McCain.

LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area.

Danette works as a RN in the Definitive Observation Unit (DOU) and has been an employee at LHMC for 3 years. She was nominated by a co-worker who commented, “It seemed everyone was busy running constant and she was helping everyone else and still took time to make sure that I was ok. She made time to let me know that I mattered too. There seemed to be a lot of stress, but she made other nurses laugh and make the best of it.”

Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Danette, as we celebrate their accomplishments.

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit www.mylakehuron.com.

Submitted by Lake Huron Medical Center

State Rep. Andrew Beeler and the Michigan House of Representatives today approved Rep. Beeler’s legislation to make state government work for the people by improving oversight and accountability measures for the governor’s emergency powers.

Beeler, R-Port Huron, helped sponsor a 30-bill plan to ensure accountability for broad authority used by the governor and state agencies to address emergencies. The plan would set timeframes, strengthen oversight by the Legislature, eliminate redundant laws, and remove unnecessary powers.

“The state government works for the people of Michigan, so in good times or emergencies, accountability is vital to a functioning republic,” Beeler said. “State legislators are closest to the people we serve. We care deeply for our communities because we live and work in them. Elected representatives address citizens’ concerns through legislation — and through oversight. Our plan will bolster legislative review over emergency powers, ensuring that government officials don’t avoid accountability.”

The plan would increase accountability by:

• Ensuring transparency: In order to ensure lawmakers overseeing state departments are aware of the use of emergency authority, other bills would simply require the executive branch to notify the Legislature in a timely manner — typically 24 hours — after some powers are exercised. Beeler’s House Bill 6207 would require officials to notify the Legislature within 24 hours of issuing an emergency order instructing a mine to suspend operations or take other corrective action to protect the public health, safety, welfare, or the environment.
• Setting reasonable timeframes: Some bills within the package would provide a specific role for elected legislators in the exercise of emergency powers, by ending the application of certain authority after 28 days, requiring the Michigan Legislature to decide whether to extend the power in that instance.
• Cleaning up the law: Additional bills in the package would repeal unnecessary or outdated emergency powers, some of which have rarely or never been used. Other statutes to be repealed are redundant, granting power also authorized elsewhere in Michigan law.

The bills now proceed to the Senate for consideration, where other parts of the plan that passed the House this summer are already under review.

Submitted by Rep. Andrew Beeler’s Office

Port Huron has some of the most beautiful scenery around, its parks and beaches are a wonderful place for families to spend the summer. To help improve these areas, Port Huron Parks & Recreation is asking residents to fill out a brief survey.

The survey will help them update and set their Five-Year Recreation plan which is required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The five year plan is an eligibility requirement for important grants such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and waterway grants.

The survey will be available to the public through the month of October, so be sure to help improve our parks by leaving your feedback, ideas, and goals. 

Fill out survey here: https://bit.ly/PHParksSurvey

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The kids are back to school, so there will be plenty of projects and assignments throughout the year. Although, they probably won’t be as much fun as the 2nd Annual LEGO Challenge sponsored by Mortimer Lumber.

Starting October 1st, Mortimer is offering participants a chance to win a $50 LEGO gift card for the children and a $50 Mortimer Lumber gift card for the parents. To win, all you have to do is put your creativity to work and build a house out of LEGOS. Not a full size replica, but something you can manage at the kitchen table. 

There are three categories for participants: elementary, middle school, and high school. Participants have to take a photo of their completed project and email it to nheier@mortimerlumber.com, or you can submit it to their Facebook Messenger along with the child’s name, age, and the parents name.

For more details check out their Facebook page at Mortimer Lumber.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell