Send new stories and press releases to JP at news@wgrt.com.

Local News

Get Your Tickets for Hunter Hospitality House’s Raffle

Hunter Hospitality House has an annual raffle to raise money for its endowment fund, and this year’s prizes include a diamond ring and earrings donated by Lawrence Jewelers and up to $5,000 in cash.

There are only 300 tickets available for the raffle, and tickets are $100.00 each. The drawing will be held on September 30th, but tickets usually sell out before the raffle.

Hunter Hospitality House has three homes located near Mclaren Port Huron Hospital and Lake Huron Medical Center that enable families whose loved ones are sick a place to stay.

The nonprofit was founded by Jeff & Tracy Willard who dedicate their work in memory of their late son, Hunter. Families who stay at Hunter Hospitality House enjoy a home-like atmosphere while their loved one is hospitalized or being cared for in nearby medical facilities like Blue Water Hospice Home.

For more information and to get raffle tickets, visit

https://www.hunterhospitalityhouse.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Two Drug Busts in Port Huron Last Week

On August 2, 2022, the St. Clair County Drug Task Force concluded an investigation into the sale of  methamphetamine in the Port Huron area.

The investigation involved an address in  the 1600 Blk of Wells St and the 34 year old male resident that resided there. A search warrant  was obtained by DTF for the address and was executed.

During the search of the address  methamphetamine, suboxone, packaging materials, and a scale were located. Criminal charges  on both residents are filed with the St. Clair county prosecutors’ office.

On August 3, 2022, the St. Clair County Drug Task force concluded an investigation into the sales of heroin in the 600 block Taylor Street in Port Huron. A search warrant was obtained for the suspect’s apartment.

The suspect was located and arrested while exiting a local gas station. The
search warrant was then executed at the apartment and a prepackaged dealer amount of heroin was located. The suspect is currently lodged at the St. Clair County jail awaiting arraignment.

Submitted by St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

Port Huron and Detroit Railroad Historical Society Creates Legacy with New Fund

The Port Huron and Detroit Railroad Historical Society has dissolved their non-profit, but they have created a lasting legacy by sharing their remaining assets with the community and creating the Tunnel City Railway and Transportation Heritage Fund, in a collaboration with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Jackie Hanton, Vice-President of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, said, “The final Port Huron & Detroit board put thoughtful, transparent and careful planning in place when dissolving to honor the donors who supported the organization over the years.”

The Port Huron and Detroit Railroad Historical Society was started in 2008 to preserve and protect the historically significant properties associated with railroad history in Michigan. They put out the call for a new Board of Directors last year after having to restructure. After no one volunteered to lead the non-profit, the Society started the long process of dissolving its assets.

Hanton said, “The Community Foundation is proud to carry forward a piece of support for restoration and preservation of items from our railroad, maritime and military history.”

For more details on the Tunnel City Railway and Transportation Fund, visit the link below:

https://www.stclairfoundation.org/tunnel-city-railway-transportation-heritage-new-fund/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Monkeypox Detected in St. Clair County; Don’t Panic But Be Aware

The St. Clair County Health Department has issued an awareness bulletin regarding Monkeypox, which has been declared a public health emergency nationwide by the CDC. In the bulletin, Liz King, the Director – Health Officer at the Health Department advised that county residents not panic, but be aware, as one case of Monkeypox has been reported in St. Clair County.

King said that Monkeypox is very different from COVID-19 in several ways: it is not “novel” like COVID was. It has been around for a long time and much is known about it. There are treatments and a vaccine.

The Health Department is investigating communicable diseases and conducting surveillance for outbreaks.

Monkeypox is a virus that is spread through close contact with an infected individual who has symptoms. It can also be spread through prolonged face-to-face contact, or contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding, although less commonly. Brief interactions with an infected person are not considered to be high risk.

Symptoms include headache, fever, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swelling of the lymph nodes, followed by a rash, and lesions one to three days after the onset of illness. The illness can last up to three weeks.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Looking for a Preschool? Check out Art in the Park

Art in the Park is coming to Grieg Park in St. Clair on August 10th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The event is for young children and their families to both relax with some crafts in the fresh air and learn about preschool options.

Art in the Park is sponsored by St. Clair County RESA and is planning to have activities for children along with free books. The activities are targeted at kids aged zero to five.

Shannon Baker, the Help Me Grow Care Coordinator and Early Childhood Specialist with St. Clair County RESA said that the event is a simple, fun, and low-key way to reach more families in the community.

Baker said, with the start of school quickly approaching, RESA is seeking out four-year-olds who could benefit from the free preschool programs like Great Start Readiness Program and Headstart, or tuition programs in local school districts.

To find out more about Art in the Park on August 10th, or about the preschool programs available in the area, see the link and contact information below.

greatstart@sccresa.org

810-455-4009

https://www.sccresa.org/services-a-z/early-childhood-services/free-preschool-gsrp

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Reconnect is Connecting Adults with College, Credential Access

The Michigan Reconnect program has now accepted over 100,000 applicants into the tuition-free degree or skills certificate earning process.

Michigan Reconnect is integral to the state’s Sixty by 30 goal of getting to 60% of Michigan adults with a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. It is now at 45-49%.

Sarah Szurpicki, the Office of Sixty by 30 Director for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity said, “Making the decision to go back to school, especially when you are already balancing adult responsibilities like a job or a family, is empowering and inspiring—and it can be daunting.”

Szurpicki said that the Michigan Reconnect Navigators can help applicants “find solutions to anything that would stop or slow them down.”

Navigators can be reached at Michigan.gov/Reconnect. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be at least 25 years old, have lived in Michigan for a year or more, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have not yet completed a college degree.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland