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

Local News

Pregnancy Care Center Opening in East China

Fellowship Baptist Church in East China will be opening its new Pregnancy Care Center on Wednesday, June 1st. The Center will offer a friendly face and support for families expecting a new baby and a variety of supplies for that baby on the way.

Senior Pastor, Terry Kuhns, said that his church was looking for a way to create a service to the surrounding community in southern St. Clair County. With much of the resources concentrated in Port Huron, they thought they could bring those much-needed baby items closer to the families that might need them.

Kuhns said that those who visit the center will be able to build relationships with the staff, who can refer them to existing resources in the county, along with access to a huge supply of baby items.

The Pregnancy Care Center is open to walk-in visitors Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon, and at other times by appointment. It is located at 5200 Park Drive in East China.

The center is in particular need of donations of maternity items.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

$1 off Gas on June 6th in Lexington with “People Helping People” Effort

Pain at the pump has turned into People Helping People. A grassroots effort in Lexington has taken off with the end result being $1 per gallon taken off of the price of up to 25 gallons of gas at “The Party Store” Marathon gas station on Main Street in Lexington, The sale is for one day only: June 6th.

Six thousand gallons of gas are available, donated by business owners who wanted to help out. A local businessman, Tim Hering, heard someone making the difficult choice between food or gas, and the idea behind “People Helping People” was born.

Hering, who owns Lakeshore Graphics, said that he wanted to inspire people. He asked small business owners in the area to contribute $250 with a goal of $3000. So far, $6000 has been raised.

The crowd that is likely to make a trip to Lexington for the reduced gas prices will hopefully also patronize some of those same small businesses that made a donation toward the reduced-price gas, as the People Helping People initiative comes full circle.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit in Port Huron on Memorial Day

The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit is coming to Port Huron on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th. The exhibit is sponsored by Pollock-Randall Funeral Homes and will be located at their Elk Street location.

The exhibit will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The quick walk-through exhibit is family-friendly and free to experience. The first 200 guests will get a special treat from Jimmy’s Frozen Custard.

The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit brings local communities and the military community together with their educational stories and interactive connections.

According to the Wreaths Across America organization, “The purpose of the Mobile Education Exhibit is to not only teach the next generation about service and sacrifice, but to share stories of patriotism and love of country to communities around the United States.”

Wreaths Across America puts wreaths on the gravesites of fallen soldiers at Arlington National cemetery and 2500 other cemeteries every December.

A link to more information can be found below.

https://learn.wreathsacrossamerica.org/mobile-education-exhibit

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

EGLE Awards Clean Water Grants to Port Huron, Capac, and 13 Other Municipalities

Port Huron is one of fifteen communities awarded a MI Clean Water Grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Port Huron’s award is $330,649 to be used for water system enhancement through Distribution System Materials Inventory development and Asset Management Plan updates.

Port Huron Mayor Pauline Repp said, “We are extremely grateful for this partnership with EGLE to be a recipient of a Drinking Water Asset Grant. With this grant, we will be able to inventory 375 water services, helping us to continue offering safe, clean drinking water to our residents.” 

The Village of Capac received a $503,536 award for water system enhancement.

EGLE reports that the grants are part of a program developed under the Clean Water Plan. The goal is to help drinking water suppliers develop and update asset management plans and develop an inventory system to identify materials such as lead service lines.

A statewide effort continues to replace lead service lines and identify and remove contaminants that threaten the safety of the drinking water supply.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Individualized Tutoring Proposed to Get Kids Back on Track in School; Help Needed

The MI Kids Back on Track plan has been introduced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to expand tutoring and learning supports statewide. Whitmer is proposing tapping into the state’s $3 billion surplus to invest $280 million in trying to make up for the educational losses that occurred during the COVID shutdowns.

The plan would pay for personalized instruction focused on each child’s specific learning challenges. Who will do the tutoring amidst an educator shortage? It could be you.

Whitmer said, “If we get this done, we can offer every student in Michigan—all 1.4 million of them—extra help with a qualified tutor. But tutoring programs only work if we have tutors. I am calling on my fellow Michiganders who want to see our kids succeed to join the effort to get our kids back on track.” 

There is a website where interested potential tutors can sign up to get connected to tutoring needs that match their interests. The website states that there are both possible future volunteer positions and jobs. A link can be found below.

https://www.volunteermichigan.org/need/detail/?need_id=694901

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

McLaren Plans Cancer Survivors Drive-Thru and Ladies Night Out

McLaren Port Huron is planning two events for the community: the Cancer Survivors Drive-Thru Event and the Ladies Night Out.

Local cancer survivors are invited to participate in a celebration called “Hope Grows Here”, sponsored by McLaren Port Huron and the Karmanos Cancer Institute. The garden-themed event will take place on Monday, June 6th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Port Huron near the Rourke Entrance.

Cancer survivors will receive a special gift and will need to register for the event.

Ladies Night Out, sponsored by the McLaren Foundation, will be held at the Marysville Community Center, at 867 E. Huron Boulevard in Marysville, on Tuesday, June 14th, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Health information specifically for women will be provided, along with activities and a delicious, healthy snack. Those ladies who attend are asked to wear their walking shoes.

The free programs just require registration.

Registration information for both the Cancer Survivors Drive-thru and the Ladies Night Out can be found below.

To register or for more information, call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland