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Local News

St. Clair County Sherriff Awards Wade and Krzywiecki as Employees of the Year

And the Employee of the Year awards go to…Detective Kelsey Wade and Corrections Deputy Keith Krzywiecki.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office presented its inaugural Employee of the Year Awards last week during a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Office.

St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King said, “I am extremely proud to be able to recognize Kelsey and Keith as our first recipients of the Employee of the Year Award. They were both nominated by several of their peers and have exemplified what it means to be an outstanding employee.”

The award recognizes Detective Kelsey Wade and Corrections Deputy Keith Krzywiecki for their daily commitment to quality work, willingness to carry out additional responsibilities beyond regular job assignments, and encouraging attitudes that contribute to positive morale.

Wade has been working at the Sheriff’s Department since 2006 and Krzywiecki has been with the department since 2007.

Both deputies received a certificate and a voucher for a night at a hotel and a gift card for dinner.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

More Foster Care Families Needed in Michigan

It’s Foster Care Month. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is in dire need of new foster families.

There are about 10,500 children in foster care in Michigan with 4,928 foster families. The highest need area is for older children, sibling groups, and kids with special needs. The goal is generally biological family reunification, but permanent adoption is an option when reunification is not possible.

Demetrius Starling, executive director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Agency said, “We are facing an increased need for foster families to provide stable and safe care for children due to the department’s commitment to provide family homes for children and reduce the use of congregate care settings, as well as a significant loss of foster homes during the pandemic.”

Experienced foster parents can answer questions for prospective foster parents with the Foster Care Navigator program at Michigan.gov/hopeforahome. Further contact information can be found at WGRT.com.

Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent can call a Foster Care Navigator at 855-MICHKIDS or visit www.fcnp.org. Navigators are experienced foster care parents who can answer questions and guide prospective foster parents on their journey. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/hopeforahome.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Police Asking for Help from Military Street Residents

On Thursday May 12, 2022 at approximately 1030 a.m. an aircraft with Customs and Border Protection noticed a submerged vehicle in the St. Clair River just off the 3400 block of Military Street.

Port Huron Police and Fire departments responded, along with Tri – Hospital EMS and the St. Clair County Dive Team. Divers entered the water and found the vehicle to have one occupant. They were able to pull him from the vehicle, but he was already deceased.

Northbound Military Street is currently closed to Conner Street with a detour around the scene. The Port Huron Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. The body of the deceased was removed from the scene by the St. Clair County Medical Examiner.

Further information identifying the victim in this incident will come from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office once proper identification and Next of Kin notifications have been made.

Investigators are still on scene with the dive team working to salvage the vehicle from the river bottom. This vehicle may have entered the river several days ago.

Investigators are asking any residents with outdoor cameras in the area to contact them to assist with the investigation. As always, if you have any information please contact Detective Lieutenant Chris Frazier at (810) 984-9711. Anonymous tips can
be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810) 987-6688 or emailed through www.porthuronpolice.org

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

A Beautiful Me Grows with Help From Community Foundation, James C. Acheson Foundation

Port Huron non-profit, A Beautiful Me, is expanding their office and training space. After outgrowing their former office space, they have moved to a new space above PH Country Style Marketplace across the street from their retail store, The Closet by A Beautiful Me. 

The new Empowerment and Training Suite was made possible by donations including a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and a James C. Acheson Foundation gift of $10,000.

The Community Foundation grant was distributed by the Grants Committee and the Youth Advisory Council. The new space was celebrated with a ribbon cutting in April with over 100 attendees.

A Beautiful Me Executive Director, Karen Palka said, “After exhausting our current footprint to train youth we explored options to provide an adequate space of growth. Within this new 2,200 square foot Empowerment & Training Suite in Downtown Port Huron we will be able to serve teen girls in all three stages of our original business, philanthropy and entrepreneurial program – building confidence and self-esteem.”

Teens in 8th-11th grades who are interested in free business training can get more information at WGRT.com.

Teens in 8th -11th grade can apply for this free training by texting emerge360 to 586-623-4407 or call 810-662-3248 for more information.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Baby Formula Shortage Continues

Where is all the baby formula? Frustrated parents are scrambling to find some types of infant formula amid a nationwide shortage.

The reason for the shortage is the shutdown of a Michigan formula processing facility that was blamed for producing contaminated formula that resulted in the deaths of two babies. The company, Abbott, disagrees with the findings. Abbott has said they could open back up in as soon as two weeks.

There are also supply chain issues related to pandemic purchasing patterns and trade laws that prevent getting formula from other countries, such as Canada.

Specialty formulas and critical medical foods, those used by people of all ages with severe food allergies, are the most scarce right now. Some pediatricians have samples that they can share, or families can deal with Abbott, who makes most of the highly specialized formula. 

The FDA warns parents to be leery of recipes for homemade baby formula and should never water down formula to make it last longer. Toddler formulas are recommended only as a last resort for older babies. A link to more information can be found at WGRT.com.

Anyone needing specialized formulas can call Abbott at 1-800-881-0876 to request a product on a case-by-case basis.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-important-steps-improve-supply-infant-and-specialty-formula-products

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bird Flu Found in Local Fox Kits

Bird flu is making its way into local wild mammals. The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus was found in young red foxes, or kits, from Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties. The virus mainly affects poultry, waterfowl, raptors, and scavengers.

The fox kits were reported to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources because of signs of illness they were exhibiting. Two foxes died within hours of collection, one at a later time, and one survived, but it developed blindness and is now housed at a nature center.

Megan Moriarty, the state wildlife veterinarian with the DNR, said, “HPAI H5N1 viruses may occasionally transmit from birds to mammals, as occurred in these cases, and there may be additional detections in other mammals during this outbreak, but they likely will be isolated cases. At this point, it is unclear how the fox kits became infected, but it’s possible that they were exposed by consuming infected birds, such as waterfowl.”

How to Report Suspected HPAI:

Calling the DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory at 517-336-5030.

Calling a local DNR field office to speak to a field biologist.

Using the DNR’s Eyes in the Field app. Choose the “diseased wildlife” reporting option.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland