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Local News

Construction Coming to M-24 in Lapeer

Starting Monday, April 18, 2022, drivers in Lapeer, Michigan should expect lane closures and traffic shifts as crews begin to rebuild the roadway on M-24.

This two-year project will start off with crews expected to rebuild westbound I-69 first. During this time, all traffic will be maintained on eastbound I-69. The following ramps will be closed during this phase of work:

  • Southbound M-24 to eastbound I-69,
  • Westbound I-69 to M-24,
  • Westbound I-69 to Wilder Road,
  • Wilder Road to westbound I-69, and
  • Lake Pleasant Road to westbound I-69.

Westbound traffic will be switched back to the westbound side of the freeway at the end of the construction season. In spring 2023, work will begin to rebuild eastbound I-69, with additional traffic restrictions in place.

Submitted by the State of Michigan

Drug Task Force Conducts Four Raids in Less Than 48 Hours

On April 6th and 7th, the St. Clair County Drug Task Force conducted four drug raids in the city of Port Huron. The raids resulted in several arrests and officers seized weapons, drug packaging materials, and multiple illegal drugs.

The first raid was around 11 AM on April 6th in the 1500 block of Lapeer Road. Officers executed a search warrant and arrested a 33 year old Port Huron man. He faces drug possession and distribution charges along with resisting arrest, maintaining a drug house, and being a habitual offender.

The second raid happened shortly after 8 PM in the 2000 block of Moak Street. A 36 year old Port Huron man was arrested in that raid and faces charges related to the possession of meth, cocaine, and a firearm, along with maintaining a drug house.

The raids on April 7th occurred in the early evening. One was at the 3100 block of Electric Avenue and involved the arrest of a 22 year old man and a 17 year old male, both from Port Huron. The second was in the 1700 block of 11th Street where two residents of Port Huron, a 45 year old woman and a 38 year old man were arrested.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Roe v. Wade Uncertainty Prompts Pre-emptive Lawsuits

Michigan’s Governor and Attorney General, along with Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, are taking pre-emptive legal action to protect unrestricted abortion rights in response to the possibility of the U. S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion.

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s biggest abortion provider, is suing Attorney General Dana Nessel to prevent enforcement of a 1931 Michigan Law that bans abortion. They have targeted other states with similar suits.

Nessel says she won’t enforce the 1931 law anyway. In fact, she is part of a multi-state lawsuit to try to restore federal funding for providers such as Planned Parenthood.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to settle the issue as to whether the 1931 law will go into effect if Roe is overturned. Whitmer said she would “fight like hell” to maintain abortion rights.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Prowlers Sign on for Another Five Years at McMorran

Port Huron will be the home of the Prowlers for at least five more years. The Federal Prospects Hockey League team has renewed their lease at McMorran Place in Downtown Port Huron until 2027.

In a statement on their website, the organization thanked the fans and said they are “ecstatic” to continue their relationship with McMorran. The Prowlers have been the home team in Port Huron since 2016.

Owner Barry Soskin described the team as “Bringing a Championship to the city in our first season, setting milestones and breaking professional hockey records for wins and winning streaks in our third year.”

He also said, “The arena is in the center of an expanding downtown, and we are excited to be a part of that growth.”

Regular season games conclude this weekend with Port Huron businessman and former Port Huron Beacons hockey player, Casey Harris, making an appearance on the ice on Saturday when the Prowlers take on the Columbus River Dragons.

The Prowlers have clinched a playoff spot with league playoffs starting immediately after the regular season.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Fort Street in Downtown Port Huron Closed for Construction Until November

On Monday, April 11, 2022, the City of Port Huron will begin construction on Fort Street from Quay Street to Beers Street. The project includes water main replacement, sanitary sewer replacement, storm sewer installation and street reconstruction.

Due to construction, Fort Street will be closed to thru traffic from Quay Street to Beers Street starting April 11, 2022 and lasting until November 2022. We encourage the public to use alternate routes while Fort Street is closed. 

The project is being funded by TIF district funds and the City of Port Huron’s street and utility funds. Work is expected to be completed by November 2022. 

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this construction work. If there are any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Department of Public Works at (810) 984-9730. 

Submitted by the City of Port Huron

Conservation District Tree Sale Provides Low-Cost Growing Options

A spring tradition in the Blue Water Area is the annual Tree Sale sponsored by the Blue Water Conservation District. The sale is underway until April 14th.

Emily Crimmins, Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program Technician, said that the sale started as a way to help landowners with reforesting their land. With food-growing becoming more popular, they have added fruit trees, asparagus, and strawberries.

The trees and plants are sold as bare roots, so the cost is much lower than it would be if buying a tree with a whole root ball from a nursery. The sale makes it easier for landowners to get their hands on high-quality stock that is appropriate for the region.

This year, there will be four pickup locations: Sandusky, Goodells, Armada, and Sterling Heights. For those who missed the ordering deadline, there will be some over-the-counter sales for whatever is left over.

Crimmins said that the Conservation District can answer questions about what will grow the best in your soil type. More information can be found here:

Tree Sale

https://bluewatercd.org/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland