Local News

It’s voting season again, so make sure you are prepared to cast your vote by being informed on the candidates and more. To assist residents with voting and registration, the St. Clair County Community Mental Health (SCCCMH) facility is hosting a Voter Registration Drive.

Those interested in registering to vote can do so between 10 AM – 2 PM on Wednesday, September 28th at the SCCCMH Main Office. To be eligible to vote you must be 18 by the voting date of November 8, 2022. Other qualifications include being a U.S. citizen, a resident of Michigan, as well as being a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days by the upcoming voting date as well.  

To ensure there are no hassles or issues, individuals should be sure to bring their driver’s license, state issued photo I.D., or the last four numbers of their social security number. 

For more information, visit scccmh.org or call St. Clair County Community Mental Health at (810) 985-8900

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) issued an update on the timeline for restoring water service to normal operations. The new projected date of completion for repairs and testing is October 5, 2022.

The new water pipe was installed and fully closed by September 6th, and the Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant began producing the 81 million gallons of water needed to fill up the main.

Once the main was filled with water, a flushing and disinfection process began that is taking longer than expected to complete.

Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E., Chief Executive Officer of GLWA said, “We want to thank everyone for their patience as we navigate this situation together. We know that extending the timeframe to return the transmission system back normal operations will further inconvenience all of the communities and their residents, but it is necessary for us to ensure that we complete this repair in a way that safeguards the public health and the system.”

Currently the only affected area with a Boil Water Advisory is the DTE Greenwood Facility.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

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