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Local News

SC4 To Host Holiday Basketball Showcase

St. Clair County Community College will be hosting 48 high school teams for its 2022 High School Holiday Basketball Showcase.

From December 28 – 30th, teams will compete at the SC4 Fieldhouse. The event will feature boys and girls teams that represent 12 counties in the state of Michigan. Tickets for the event are $10, and are good for an entire day of games.

Director of Athletics at SC4 Dale Vos says, “This is a top-notch event, bringing together impressive teams from all over the state. We look forward to some exciting competition and to welcoming teams and fans from around Michigan to the SC4 Fieldhouse.”  

Some of the competing teams will be our Port Huron and Northern teams, Croswell, Capac, Marysville, and a host of others. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Tips To Keep Your Christmas Tree Looking Great This Holiday

Some of us like to use artificial trees at Christmas time, but others prefer real ones. If you are part of the latter group, then here are a few tips to help make your tree last longer and keep its healthy appearance this season.

If you are purchasing a tree from a lot or farm then you want to make sure that you get a freshly cut tree. If you cannot get one freshly cut, then make sure to have them cut a few inches off the base to open up the vascular tissue of the tree before taking it home. This allows water and nutrients to more easily be absorbed. 

As for water, you want to keep your stand filled with an adequate amount of warm water based on the size of the tree. Never let your base run dry, it allows air to become trapped in the tree, causing it to not absorb the water effectively, which leads to a shorter lifespan for your tree.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Parasite Outbreak Urges Caution When Handling Livestock

A reminder from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services urges Michiganders to use caution when handling livestock due to a parasitic outbreak.

Residents in Livingston, Ingham, and Oakland counties have shown signs of cryptosporidiosis caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite. To date, there have been a total of 12 people between the ages of 19 and 56 who showed signs of diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea along with other related symptoms between November 15 – 21.

The illness is spread via animal stool from infected livestock, and animals may be infected even if they show no symptoms. Individuals may come into contact with the parasite by petting or handling sick animals which then enters the person via contaminated hands, so handwashing immediately after is important. 

If you or someone you know begins to experience symptoms please contact a physician immediately. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Twenty-Four Small Michigan Manufacturers Receive Tech Grant

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that twenty-four small Michigan manufacturers have been awarded a total of $559,005 in grant funding.

The funding was part of the $3million Industry 4.0 Technology Implementation Program, which  will help them adopt Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. The grants are reimbursement-based and cover up to 50 percent of technologies such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and automation, and more.

CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board, Quentin L. Messer Jr. says “As Michigan continues to lead the world in advanced manufacturing, these Industry 4.0 grants will help Michigan manufacturers of all sizes adopt new and innovative technologies that will enable them to remain competitive well into the future.”

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Christmas Toys To Avoid This Holiday Season

The joy of opening Christmas presents is unmatched, but could that new toy be a disaster waiting to happen? Here’s what to watch out for to keep your children safe this holiday season. 

Nonprofit organization, W.A.T.C.H (World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc.) has issued a list of toys for the 2022 Christmas season that are a potential hazard, and should be taken into consideration before purchasing. 

Hazards include toys that contain coin cell batteries, toy weapons, toxic substances, and plush toys that could potentially lead to suffocation in infants. Here is a list to help you make safe choices this holiday:

  • Cocomelon Musical Learning Watch
  • Disney Raya’s Action & Adventure Sword
  • Li’l Woodzeez Tickle-Your-Taste-Buds Bakery
  • Black Panther Wakanda Battle Claws
  • Zeus Lion
  • Dingray Musical Bath Toy
  • Ooze Labs Chemistry Station
  • Bunny Rabbit Cuddly Pillow
  • Pop’n Fidget Spinners
  • Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic Blasters

For the detailed list visit: toysafety.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Holiday Shopping Event For The Children Returns

Typically it’s the parents, or should I say Santa, that is out and about getting gifts ready for all of the good little boys and girls. This year the kids have a chance to do a little holiday shopping of their own at the 3rd Annual Panda Santa Kids Shopping Event.

The event is being held by Polka Dot Pandas located at 201 Huron Ave. in downtown Port Huron. Polka Dot Pandas is a children’s clothing boutique that features original designs on hats, dresses, hair accessories and more. 

On Friday, December 12th until Saturday, December 10th, parents can bring their children down to do some holiday shopping of their own. Featured items are $5 or less, and feature quality, locally made gifts for the whole family. There will also be goodie bags for the first 50 kids each event day, so get there early.  

For more information, visit their Facebook page at: Port Huron Pandas.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell