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

Local News

Spongy Moth Spraying Scheduled for Thursday, May 19, 2022

St. Clair County is planning to spray insecticide treatments aimed at suppressing Spongy Moths starting tomorrow, Thursday, May 19, 2002 beginning early in the morning.

Weather conditions are predicted to be optimal for aerial spraying, and A1’s Aerial Spraying LLC will be releasing insecticide on 5,300 acres around St. Clair County. If the weather conditions change, spraying will be rescheduled.

A1’s Aerial Spraying plans to release Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) via airplanes on the tree canopies in areas most inhabited by Spongy Moth caterpillars. The insecticide is water-based and approved for use in certified organic food production.

Maps of the areas being treated are available here:

Spongy Moth Spray Areas

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Last Weekend to See The Hiding Place at The Citadel Stage

This is your last weekend to catch Enter Stage Right’s production of The Hiding Place at The Citadel Stage. The show started on May 6th , and the production has its last run on Sunday, May 22nd at 3 PM.

The Hiding Place is based on the life of Corrie ten Boom whose family provided shelter and safety for Jews during WWII in the Netherlands. The family used their home and watch shop as a refuge until they were discovered by the Gestapo and forced into a work camp.

The ten Boom family sacrificed their own safety to live out their Christian values, and Corrie wrote her family’s story in her book, The Hiding Place, in 1971.

Tickets are available for the George Christison production of The Hiding Place at the Citadel Stage for showings Friday and Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.

Learn more here:

“The Hiding Place” by George Christison

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

CityFlatsHotel Boutique Hotel to Open in June

The CityFlatsHotel is gearing up for a mid-June opening of the 18-room boutique hotel. 

Cathy Mills, Managing Director of CityFlatsHotel, says, “It’s so exciting to see the progress that is taking place every day and to compare the uniqueness of each room. The colors and décor are very contemporary, and our amazing interior design team made sure that each room looks different from the others. With custom-made furnishings and bedding, guests who stay with us, again and again, will have a different experience in every room.”

Mills said that the unique rooms and modern décor are one of the reasons for their “Stay Different” motto. Rooms have views of downtown Port Huron or the Black River.

Port Huron’s Martin Construction completed renovations on the former Michigan National Bank building, built in 1927. The furnishings are designed by Charter House.

The building is also home to restaurants and a ballroom that seats 300 guests. It is located at 405 Water Street in downtown Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

New Laws Put Newspaper Legal Notices Online for Free

Two new laws will require newspapers to publish legal notices, such as foreclosures, estate notices, public notices, advertisements to bid, public meeting notices, and others, online for free public access. Earlier this week, Lisa McGraw, Public Affairs Manager for the Michigan Press Association, said that the Association was thrilled that the bills were signed.

Newspapers will be prohibited from placing legal notices behind a pay wall. The bills are hoped to improve access to public information while maintain records that newspapers provide.

The sponsors of the Senate bills, Democrat Sylvia Santana of Detroit and Republican Curtis VanderWall of Ludington, called the legislation “overdue” and “meant to increase public transparency”.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Suspect Arraigned in Port Huron Shooting Incident

On March 07, 2022 Port Huron PD received an initial call at 0450 hours for 4-5 shots fired near 9th St.  and Court St. The area was checked, but nothing was initially located. At 0528 hours, a call was  received from a resident in the 1200 block of 9th St. indicating that someone shot a bullet through the front window of the residence.

Officers responded and found that three rounds hit the home, including  rounds that entered a residence and more specifically a room where two people were sleeping. No one inside the home was hit by a round, and no one was injured. Evidence of the crime were located at the  scene.  

The Port Huron Major Crimes Unit (MCU) was assigned this complaint. Since the incident, MCU has  done extensive follow-up and were able to identify Lance Delorean Hardon, a 33 year old Port Huron  resident, as the suspect in the incident.  

On 5-12-2022 members of MCU located Hardon leaving a business in the 1700 Dove St. He was taken  into custody without incident and lodged at the jail. On 5-13-2022 Hardon was arraigned and his bond  was set at $250,000 cash/surety. His charges are as follows: 

  1. Weapons – Firearms – Discharge in or at a Building 
  2. Weapons – Firearms – Discharge from Vehicle 
  3. Weapons – Firearms – Possession by Felon 
  4. Weapons – Ammunition – Possession by Felon 
  5. Weapons – Felony Firearm Second Offense (3 counts) 

If you have knowledge of this crime or any crimes call the Port Huron Police Department at (810) 984- 8415 or the Port Huron Police Department Major Crimes Unit at (810) 984-5383.  

Anonymous tips can be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810) 987-6688, emailed through  www.porthuronpolice.org, or texted by downloading the Port Huron PD app on apple or android  devices. Anonymous texts can also be received by texting the keyword CAPTURE and their message/tip  to 847411. 

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Grand Opening of McMorran Plaza May 26, 2022

McMorran Place Plaza is almost ready to host multiple gatherings this summer, and the City of Port Huron is kicking off the season with a grand opening of the space to celebrate with the community.

On Thursday, May 26th at 1 PM, there is a grand opening celebration at McMorran Place Plaza , and the first 250 people to arrive will receive a commemorative coin to remember the event.

Nancy Winzer, Director of Port Huron Parks and Recreation, said, “McMorran Place is the Blue Water Area’s community civic center and one of the most iconic landmarks in our downtown. We’re excited to activate the front plaza area as the center of our vibrant downtown and allow it to serve as the town square area it was originally designed for.”

McMorran Place was built in the 1960’s, and the opening of the plaza marks a new era of excitement with the addition of an outdoor stage, a beer garden, and a splash pad for cooling off on hot summer days.

There will be live concerts at the plaza every weekend throughout the summer along with outdoor fitness classes provided by the Blue Water Area YMCA.

Learn more at Mcmorran.com/plaza

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand